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Nell and Nan 


Page 39 







NELL AND NAN: 


OR, 


TRYING TO BE GOOD. 


KY 


MRS. A. E. C. MASKELL, 

Author of 

Willie and Lillie,” “Minnie Loyle,” and “Bessie Bell. 








PHILADELPHIA . 

American baptist Publication Society, 
1420 Chestnut Streets 








NELL AND NAN; 

OR, 

TRYING TO BE GOOD. 



Mrs. A. E. C. MASKELL, 

Author of “ Willie and Lillie,” " Minnie Loyle” and “ Bessie Bell” 



PHILADELPHIA: 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
1420 Chestnut Street. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by the 
AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


DEDICATED 


TO THE 

MISSES ELLIE AND HANNIE ANDERSON, 

Sisters of the Author, 

BECAUSE THEIR EARLY CHRISTIAN LIFE FURNISHED MOST 
OF THE INCIDENTS FOR THIS TALE. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

A Teacher’s Parting Words 7 

CHAPTER II. 

Hunting for Something to Do 16 

CHAPTER III. 

Some Missteps 25 

CHAPTER IV. 

More Stumbling..... 31 

CHAPTER V. 

Little Strangers 39 

CHAPTER VI. 

New Sunday-school Scholars 49 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Sunday Walk 57 

CHAPTER VIII. 

An Interesting Sunday-school* Book 68 

CHAPTER IX. 

All About Some Grapes 77 

CHAPTER X. 

In the Right Way at Last 85 

CHAPTER XI. 

Robbing the Missionary Boxes 93 

CHAPTER XII. 

In the Pastor’s Study 104 


5 


6 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER XIII. 

PAGB 

Helping Mother - 114 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The Sewing Party 122 

CHAPTER XV. 

Back-Door Missionaries 130 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Running Ahead 136 

CHAPTER XVII. 

A Foolish Quarrel 143 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

About Sanctification 149 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Mrs. Laurel 154 

. CHAPTER XX. 

Wonderful Keys 161 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Captain Clark’s Return 166 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Old Martin’s Death 171 

CHAPTER XXIIL 

III Tidings 176 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

The Welcome Letter 182 

CHAPTER XXV. 

The Lord’s Goodness 188 


NELL AND NAN; 

OR, 

TRYING TO BE GOOD. 

CHAPTER I. 

a teacher’s parting words. 

66 "I70U will find many paths in going through 
J- life, girls ; be sure you • choose the right 
one ! ” These were the prim, precise words of a 
plain little woman, as she stood upon the platform 
of a wayside Station, waiting for the train that was 
to bear her many, many miles from the scenes in 
which she had been so actively engaged as a teacher 
for several years. 

“But how shall we know which is the right one?” 
inquired a sprightly-looking little girl of fifteen 
years. 

The teacher gave an almost startled look at the 
speaker, for she had merely spoken the words bv way 

of keeping up the conversation. She had expected 

7 


8 


NELL AND NAN. 


anything serious she might say to light upon silent 
soil, as it had done heretofore; for Miss Percy had 
the misfortune to be one of those lukewarm Christians 
who know the way of salvation plainly enough, but 
had let herself drift into a state of inactivity because 
it seemed to suit the circumstances by which she was 
surrounded. 

A faint flush stole over her cheek, and for a moment 
she realized what she might have accomplished had 
she begun sooner and been faithful and earnest enough. 
But it was too late now to repair that; and just then 
catching the shrill cry of the approaching locomotive, 
she added, hurriedly : 

“ There is a picture in Mr. Newton’s parlor, called 
‘ Many Ways.’ Go and see it, girls, and if there is 
anything about it that you do not understand, ask 
him. He will help you to choose the right one. 
Good-bye, darlings.” Then the conductor seized her 
hand, there was a whisk of her skirts, and she was 
gone. 

A dozen or more girls took out their pocket hand- 
kerchiefs and waited a moment expectantly, then 
slowly returned them; for the car had been so nearly 
filled that Miss Percy had been obliged to take a seat 
upon the opposite side. 


NELL AND NAN. 


9 


“ I say, Nannie, let’s go to Mr. Newton’s, and see 
that picture before we forget it,” said the young girl 
who was interested in the right path, as she and her 
sister turned down a back street on their way to their 
home. 

“ What’s the use, Nell ? I dare say we will find 
out the right way by the time we become women.” 

“But I want to know now, Nan. I am fifteen and 
you are thirteen, and we couldn’t begin younger. 
Besides, it is so nice to be good. Everybody respects 
you. ‘ A good name is rather to be chosen than great 
riches,’ comes from the Bible, and it is true, Nan. 
Nothing would please me so much as to hear every- 
body saying, ‘What good girls Nell and Nan Clark 
are ! ’ I think I should be just as happy as I want 
to be if everybody loved and respected me because I 
am good — don’t you ? ” 

“I don’t know. It always seems to me that good 
people have such miserable times. Now I want a 
good time, and am bound to have it.” 

“ Well, don’t you suppose we can have a good time 
and be good too? I think I should enjoy doing all 
kinds of good things just for the fun of it, and then 
to have everybody praising one — oh, that would be 


10 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Go ahead, then, and I will follow you, as you 
know I always do. But seems to me we ought to 
have some other motive than the love of praise.” 

“ Let us go and see that picture first ) then we can 
tell better where to begin.” 

“ I reckon we know how to be good, Nell Clark, 
without bothering with any picture. We’ve got to do 
missionary work.” 

“How?” 

“ Why, get people to go to church.” 

“We don’t go ourselves only when we feel like it.” 

“ No, we must begin right away, I suppose.” 

“And gather children into the Sunday-school, and 
interest ourselves in beggars, and all that.” 

“And read our Bibles, and a heap more of things,”* 
added Nan. 

“I shall go and see the picture, whether you go or 
not, since Miss Percy advised it. I shall tell Mrs. 
Newton that our teacher wished us to look at it.” 

“ Go on, then, but there is no use in it, I know. It 
will take more than a picture to set us in the right 
path, I am thinking.” 

“You are the greatest girl to reason that I ever 
saw.” 

“And you are the most impulsive one. I have to 


NELL. AND NAN. 


11 


do the thinking for us both. If you think we can 
sail right smoothly on, you will be mistaken. For 
my part, if I undertake it, I expect to have a rough 
time of it.” 

“But I do want to be good, Nan, oh, so very much. 
I have felt dissatisfied with my aimless, fruitless life 
for some time, and I am for trying better things, even 
if I fail. It will not be all rough, I know; for * Vir- 
tue has its own reward/ as we write in our copy books.” 

They were at the parsonage gate now, and found 
Mrs. Newton scrubbing the pavement. With flush- 
ing cheeks Nellie made known her errand. 

“Go into the parlor and look at the picture as 
long as you like; but excuse me, please, as I am 
always very busy Saturday mornings.” 

“ Yes, -ma’am, and so is mother,” said Nell, faintly, 
remembering for the first time that she and Nannie 
ought to be at home, taking care of the baby, or 
paring the potatoes for dinner. 

“ Mr. Newton has just gone out,” continued Mrs. 
Newton, as she led the way into the parlor, and 
opened the shutters. 

“ I don’t believe she half likes us bothering her 
when she is busy,” said Nan, as soon as they were left 
alone. 


12 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Oh, yes, she does — she don’t care ; but I’m glad 
Mr. Newton is out, as I am half afraid of him. See, 
here is the picture ” — and the girls stood before a 
curious-looking painting. There, were many, many 
paths, some beset with thorns and rocks, and checked 
by the flow of swollen waters, and others strewn with 
flowers along which shone precious stones of every 
hue. One path particularly attracted the girls ; for it 
was paved with gold, and as people eagerly pressed 
into it, they gathered up the yellow treasure by hand- 
fuls, and smiled, and gloated over it. 

“But that isn’t the right way, I know,” laughed 
Nellie. 

“ The path strewn with flowers and skirted by 
these tall, shady trees suits me the best,” said Nan. 
“ See how happy the people seem, almost flying along, 
literally laden down with flowers, with the privilege 
of resting as long as they like by the way.” 

“ But it isn’t the right path, I know; for see how 
weary the travelers look near the end of the way, 
and the flowers they have gathered lie broken and 
withered around them. Here is the right path, I feel 
most sure.” 

“ Where?” 

“ Don’t you see this one filled so completely with 


NELL AND NAN. 


13 


rocks and sharp stones that one can scarcely see the 
way through ? But it must be the right one, because — 
see, at almost every turn there stands some one to 
take one by the hand, and smile, and cheer. See how 
these people are clapping their hands.” 

“ But the travelers look so tired,” suggested 
Nannie. 

“ Of course, there are difficulties in the right path ; 
we must expect it. The cheers of lookers-on will 
keep me up, 1 am sure.” 

“ Well, I hope as much, but I must confess I feel 
the undertaking to be more of a task than I did 
before seeing this picture. It’s my opinion we will 
soon become tired of it.” 

“ I never will.” 

“ Then I am sure I shall not, for father says I have 
more stability than you.” 

“ Let us go, now,” said Nell. And they went out to 
where Mrs. Newton was still scrubbing the pavement. 

“ Isn’t it hard work for you, all this long stretch of 
bricks?” asked Nellie. 

“ Yes,” ‘replied Mrs. Newton; “but it has to be 
done. I am getting to be an old woman now, almost 
three-score and ten, and I am not so spry as I used 
to be.” 


14 


NELL AND NAN. 


“No, ma’am/’ said Nellie, pityingly; and the two 
girls passed on down the street. 

“ First rock in the way jumped over, and I don’t 
see anybody clapping their hands,” laughed Nannie. 

“I don’t know what you mean,” said Nellie. 

“Why, didn’t you see how poor Mrs. Newton’s 
hands trembled as she held that broom ? And don’t 
you know how stout and rugged we are ? We ought 
to have taken the broom and finished the scrubbing 
for her.” 

“ But I can’t bear to work.” 

“ Of course not. That was the first rock in our 
path, and we just jumped right over it. Oh, Nell,” 
and Nan laughed heartily. 

“ I believe you see into the ‘ path ’ business better 
than I,” replied her sister. 

“ Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t,” said Nannie, 
plucking the long spears of grass by the wayside. 

“ Perhaps we can help mother.” 

“She is always done her morning’s work by this 
time, Nell; but we ought to have taken Baby Charlie 
to the Station with us. Mother looked so tired.” 

“ If we are going to bother over such little petty 
things as work, we won’t get much time for mission- 
ary labor. I am quite sure mamma would be willing 


NELL AND NAN. 


15 


to dispense with our help for the sake of having us 
engaged in such a grand work. Why, Nan, just 
think how many mothers willingly give up their sons 
to go as foreign missionaries. They feel it is their 
duty to give them up.” 

“Well, if mother will give us up so easily, I don’t 
care, for I don’t like housework any better than you 
do. So, where shall we begin ? ” 

“I don’t know. We must hunt for something to do, 
I suppose.” 


CHAPTER II. 


HUNTING FOR SOMETHING TO DO. 

£ £ TTAVE you needed us this morning, mamma?” 

asked Nellie, as the girls entered the house 
and found dinner waiting for them. 

“Of course; I always need you. I didn’t think 
it would take you all the forenoon to see Miss Percy 
off.” 

“ How lovely ! new peas and strawberries,” chirped 
Nannie, as she took her seat and turned over her plate. 

“ Yes, to be sure,” said her mother ; “ but who 
shelled the peas, and who picked over the straw- 
berries ? ” 

“ It is too bad, mamma ; but we will try to do 
better next time,” Nell apologized. 

“ Promises will amount to nothing, child, unless 
you make some effort. There is Pliebe Wolcott next 
door, who does half her mother’s work.” 

If there was a girl in the village that the girls 
detested it was this same Phebe Wolcott, whom their 
mother was always holding up for an example; so they 
drew down their faces and made no reply. 

16 


NELL AND NAN. 


17 


■ 


“ After dinner I want you girls to wash the 
dishes, and then look after Charlie while I take a 
nap. My head aches severely after such a hard 
morning.” 

“ Yes, ma’am,’'* assented both girls. But after the 
dishes were washed, and they had Baby Charlie out 
under the arbor, Nellie said, quite seriously : 

“I am afraid mother is going to be the biggest rock 
in our way.” 

“ Nell Clark, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” 

“She doesn’t sympathize with us one bit in any new 
undertaking.” 

“ Well, how can she, when she don’t know a breath 
about it ? ” 

“ I dare not tell her ; for I know she would tell us 
there was enough work at home without our gadding 
around doing missionary work.” 

“ You don’t know any such thing.” 

“ She’d discourage us, I know.” 

“ I don’t believe it.” 

“ But didn’t she at the dinner-table ? The idea of 
her holding up that horrid Pliebe Wolcott, when she 
knows we despise her.” 

“ Mamma was tired.” 

“ Don’t I know she was, and I love my mother 

B 


18 


NELL AND NAN. 


just as much as you do, Nan Clark. I only wish she 
was a little different, that is all.” 

“ How ? ” 

“ Why, I wish I could only feel free to go to her 
with everything. It would be such a help.” 

“I dare say mamma would appreciate it, if we only 
would.” 

“No, she would only say, ‘ Don’t bother me, child,* 
and that would be the last of it.” 

“ Mamma is a Christian.” 

“I know she is a member of church. But she 
never talks to us of Jesus; and one night she got up, 
when I caught her on her knees, as if she was 
scared.” 

“ It’s mamma’s way.” 

“ I wish she wouldn’t scold so much.” 

“Now, Nell Clark, that’s too bad. Our mother 
doesn’t scold half so much as most women. Think 
of Mrs. Wolcott, for instance. No wonder Phebe 
does so much work. She has to do it. I wouldn’t 
change our mother for any one else in the world.” 

“ Neither would I.” 

“She’s just the darlingest and most precious mother 
in the world.” 


“ Of course she is.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


19 


“ Then what are you blowing about, Nell Clark ? 
I think you are just horrid this afternoon.” 

“ I don’t want to blow ; I only want to be good.” 

“ A queer way to commence, talking about your 
own mother so. You know mamma is a model. 
Keeps her house as neat as wax and all our clothes in 
repair until we are the envy of half the village. 
People say she is the best manager in town.” 

“Yes, mamma is everything,” answered Nellie, 
with tears in her eyes, “but ” 

“ But what?” 

“ There, there, we’ll say no more about it. I never 
shall be as good as mamma, if I try all my days, I 
know.” And Nellie began to toss the baby until he 
was crowing with delight. 

“ You are not going to give up missionary work?” 

“ No, no, not if we can find anything to do. I 
don’t know where to begin.” 

“ Perhaps something will come to us.” 

“ No, it never does. We’ve got to hunt something 
to do. If we only lived in some city now, instead of 
this poky old village.” 

“ But we ought to be thankful everybody is so 
good.” 

“ Yes ; but it is no place to do missionary work.” 


20 


NELL AND NAN. 


“There’s the Harnier children.” 

“True, I had forgotten them.” 

“ Don’t go to Sunday-school.” 

“ I wonder what’s the reason ? Their father has 
a good trade and plenty of work, but they never 
have anything to wear.” 

“ Sheer shiftlessness on the part of their mother.” 

“ I’m glad our mamma is not like Mrs. Harmer.” 

“ So am I.” And Nan smoothed the folds of her 
clean bright gingham. 

“ There are six of those Harmer children, all old 
enough to go to Sunday-school. They would be quite 
an addition, and the superintendent and our teacher 
would be ever so pleased, Nan.” 

“ Of course they would.” 

“ I am for going over there this very afternoon 
and see if we can’t get them to begin to-morrow.” 

“ That will be nice.” 

“I wish mamma would come and get the baby.” 

“ Let us put him in his coach and take him along. 
Mother won’t care.” 

So little Charlie was tucked snugly away under his 
sky-blue afghan, and the girls were fairly started on 
their way after something to do. 

They found Mrs. Harmer at home, up to her 


NELL AND NAN. 


21 


eyes in work, though it was three o’clock in the 
afternoon. 

“ How do you do, girls ? And here is the baby,” 
cried Mrs. Harmer, apparently much pleased with her 
callers. “ I suspect your mother was done her work 
hours ago ; but then I have twice as many to do 
for as she has, and my girls are not the help to me 
that you are to your mother. Here, let me wipe off 
that chair before you sit down, as I fear Teddy 
smeared it when he was there eating bread and 
molasses.” And giving no one a chance to put in a 
word edgeways, Mrs. Harmer commenced rolling 
down her sleeves. 

“ Please don’t let us interrupt you,” said Nell ; 
" we’ve only come in for a few minutes.” 

“Oh, it will not hurt me to rest a while; for I’m all 
but dragged out. There, Tommy, Ben and Teddy, 
clear out; as you are enough to frighten anybody with 
your dirt and impudence.” 

“Just wanted to see who was here,” said Ben, 
thrusting his hands into his pockets and staring at the 
girls. 

“ Please, Mrs. Harmer, don’t send them away, for 
that’s what we came for, to see the children.” 

“ Why, law, now you don’t say. Tommy, roll 


22 


NELL AND NAN. 


down your pants and run out for Letitia and Mary 
Annie. The girls will feel mortified enough, because 
they are not yet dressed for the afternoon.” 

The girls soon made their appearance in disheveled 
hair, soiled, tattered dresses, and barefooted, and sat 
themselves down on the edge of chairs as if they did 
not know what to do with themselves; and their looks 
showed plainly enough that they could not imagine 
what such “stuck-ups” as the Clark girls wanted with 
them. 

“ See here, girls,” said Mrs. Harnier, “ Nellie and 
Nannie have come over to see you. Do you think 
you can entertain them while I go on with my work? 
Them ginger cakes in the kitchen need tending to 
this minute.” 

No sooner had Mrs. Harmer flown to the kitchen 
than Nan blurted out her errand, but not soon enough 
to escape Mrs. Harmer, who was back just in time to 
catch the last words. 

“ Want ’em to go to Sunday-school with you, do 
you? Well, now, that is kind, and I am so sorry 
that they’ve got nothing to wear. Just see here.” 
And Mrs. Harmer quickly opened a cupboard door 
and disclosed a set of shelves every one packed with 
sewing. There were pretty new dresses for the girls, 


NELL AND NAN. 


23 


and whole suits for the boys ; but they couldn’t get 
made. 

“ Haven’t you a machine, Mrs. Harmer ? ” 

“ Law, yes, but its out of order half the time ; the 
boys bother with it so. Only yesterday I caught 
Teddy and Ben a-playin’ with my machine for dear 
life. The big wheel was their windmill, as they 
called it.” And Mrs. Harmer laughed heartily at the 
remembrance. 

u It’ll be winter-time before we git our new ging- 
hams done,” said Letitia, sulkily. 

“ There, none of your sass. I reckon Nellie and 
Nannie here help their mother sew ! ” 

“ Some,” stammered Nell. 

“ Mother prefers us to take care of the baby while 
she sews,” said Nan. 

“ There, do you hear that? Nellie and Nannie 
here take care of the baby, and leave the whole 
house to their mother. I do suspect she’s sewing 
this minute. But it is hard to do any sewing or any 
thing else when two or three young ones are tumbling 
under your feet all the time.” 

“ Mamma, I’ll take care the children don’t bother 
you after this, if you will only hurry and get our dresses 
done,” spoke up Mary Annie. “ As Letitia says, we 


% 


24 NELL AND NAN.' 

always get our summer dresses made up for winter, 
and our winter ones for summer” 

“ I don’t know but what it would pay me better to 
hire my sewing done, if your father was only willing. 
He says, girls, that it costs more nowadays to get 
garments made than it does to buy the material.” 

“That’s what mamma says,” said Nellie, quietly. 

“ I shall have to try to do it myself some way. I 
think Letitia and Mary Annie will be ready to go 
to Sunday-school with you by to-morrow week.” 

“Oh, thank you; and when will the younger ones be 
ready ? ” 

“ A couple of weeks later, I think.” 

“ Oh, that will be ever so nice,” said Nellie, grate- 
fully. “ And now, Nannie, we must go, as mother 
may be wanting us.” 




CHAPTER III. 


SOME MISSTEPS. 

* * AT OW, if we are going to be good, we must go 
-k * to church this morning,” were the first words 
that Nellie said upon waking the next morning. 

“ We ought to have been up long before this, help- 
ing mamma,” said Nannie, springing out of bed and 
beginning to dress herself hastily. 

“ It is so nice to lie here and build plans for the 
future, especially when they are such worthy ones. 
Nan, shall you wear your white dress this morning 
or your pink lawn?” 

“ My lawn, I guess. But there goes the breakfast- 
bell ; do hurry, Nell, mamma has breakfast all ready.” 

“ Then I shall wear my blue,” said Nellie, com- 
posedly, as she slowly began to dress. 

“You are the biggest poke I ever knew, Nellie 
Clark. I shall just go down-stairs and leave you.” 

“ But I thought we were going to read a chapter in 
the Bible together every morning?” 

“ We can’t this morning.” 

“ What’s the reason ? ” 


25 


26 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ And keep mamma waiting breakfast for us?” 

“ But she oughtn’t to mind if we are reading the 
Bible,” said Nellie. 

“ It seems to me, Nell Clark, you are thinking more 
about what mamma ought to do than what you ought 
yourself. If that’s your game, I’m not with you,” 
said Nan, indignantly. 

“ I don’t mean anything of the kind,” said Nellie, 
with tears in her eyes. “ You and mamma are 
always misunderstanding me. I wish papa was 
home. I know he would appreciate my efforts, if 
nobody else does.” 

“ I didn’t mean to be cross,” said Nan, kindly ; 
“ but we had better give up our readings in the morn- 
ing, and have them at night, rather than to keep 
mamma waiting for us, unless we can manage to wake 
up an hour or two earlier.” 

“ I am sure I meant to get up real early this morn- 
ing, and I had no idea it was so late.” 

“ Nor I. Shall we commence our reading to-ni^ht, 
Nellie?” 

“ I suppose we shall have to. It seems to me when 
anybody wants to be good everything goes against 
them.” 

“You mustn’t get discouraged already, Nell.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


27 


Nellie made no reply, but quietly followed her 
sister down-stairs. 

“Girls,” said Mrs. Clark, as they 'took their seats 
at the table, “ I am going to church this morning, 
and want you to stay at home and take care of 
Charlie.” 

Nellie looked over at Nan, but Nan had nothing 
to say. 

“ Why, mother, we were going to church this 
morning/’ at last stammered Nell. 

“ Indeed! I wonder when you began to be such 
church lovers? I thought you were particularly 
fond of remaining at home hot Sundays, and that Mr. 
Newton’s sermons were nothing but prosy affairs at 
the best,” said their mother. 

“ We thought we would try it again,” said Nellie, 
with a blush. 

“ Well, you can try it this evening — and then you 
go to Sunday-school, while I do not.” 

The girls said no more, but remained home with 
the baby, with the best grace they could. 

“ I am discouraged,” said Nellie. 

“ I am not,” said Nannie, “ for I reckon the ser- 
mon will do mamma more good than it will us. 
Besides, we can go to-night.” 


28 


NELL AND NAN. 


“But nobody hardly goes there hot summer even- 
ings. It will not be like going this morning.” 

“Why, I don’t suppose we are going to show our- 
selves to the people, but to hear what good we can. 
Besides, it will encourage Mr. Newton more. He is 
always growling about young people taking no more 
interest in evening meetings. For my part, I would 
just as soon go this evening as this morning.” 

“Well, I won’t mind this time, then. Perhaps, if 
mamma finds out that we are trying to be good, she 
will take turns with us after this. I wish I knew 
how to tell her.” 

“ I guess she will find it out for herself, if we let 
our light shine,” said Nannie. 

“ I want to be so good that everybody will find it 
out,” said Nellie. 

Nannie hummed softly to herself for a time, and 
then began to lay plans with her sister for the future 
until their mother came home. 

“ Why, girls ! ” said Mrs. Clark, “ where is lunch ? 
I supposed you would have it all on the table. You 
knew I would have my best clothes on.” 

“ We never thought,” stammered Nellie. 

“It seems to me you never think. Your thoughts 
for a day or two past seem to be away up in the 


NELL AND NAN. 


29 


clouds. Here, give me Charlie, and see how nicely 
you can spread lunch. Plenty of the cold roast, and 
rice pudding for dessert, you know.” And Mrs. Clark 
swept up into the parlor with the baby. 

' “ Oh, Nellie, we are growing worse instead of bet- 
ter ! ” said Nannie, amid the rattle of the dishes. 

Nellie made no reply, but there were tears in her 
eyes. 

“ We don’t know how, and might as well give 
it up.” 

“ But, Nannie, we will never go to heaven unless 
we find out the way,” said Nellie, sadly. 

“ Let us ask mother.” 

“ I don’t like to.” 

“ Our Sunday-school teacher, then.” 

“ Oh, we will get into the right path after a while, 
I presume, if we persevere.” 

“ Nellie, let us gather a bouquet for the table.” 

“ What’s the use ? ” 

“ It would please mother.” 

“Nan, do you know your Suuday-school lesson?” 

“ Haven’t looked at it.” 

“Good children always pay attention to such 
things.” 

“ We won’t get much time to-day, I am thinking.” 


30 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ No, not if you poke about in that manner, smooth- 
ing out every crease in every napkin; and you’ll not 
have time for the flowers, either.” 

“Oh, well, let them go, then. I never thought 
about our lessons. I wonder when we ever took so 
much thought before?” 

“ But we are going to be good now.” 

The girls found, after the dinner work was squared 
up and they were all dressed for Sunday-school, that 
they had just fifteen minutes to look over their lessons. 

At it they both went, but not being particularly in- 
terested in the back lessons, it was hard to get a right 
start; and at the end of the time both owned that they 
knew no more than they did when they began. 

“The time is too short,” said Nannie. “We ought 
to take an hour at least on these lessons.” 

“ We will begin in time, then, for next Sunday.” 

“ I believe you will be a Christian, some time, Nellie. 
Nothing seems to daunt you.” 

“Thank you, Nan; that is the most encouragement 
I have received since we began.” And a deep color 
glowed on Nellie Clark’s cheek. 

Poor child ! she was indeed in earnest, and did not 
lack perseverance; but, for want of right training, she 
did not know how to get into the true path. 


CHAPTER IV. 


MORE STUMBLING. 



ELLIE and Nannie felt that they were indeed 


1M beginning to be good when, hymn-books in 
hand, they entered the family pew of the old church 
that warm Sunday evening. 

“For,” thought Nellie, “we do not have to come. 
We might just as well have stayed home, or taken a 
long walk.” And seeing Mrs. Deacon Perry with her 
head bent forward on the railing of the pew before 
her, Nellie bowed, too, much to Nannie’s astonish- 
ment, who sat bolt upright in her seat, thinking over 
to herself, “ Well, you don’t catch me making such a 
show as that until I am more certain that I am really 
good. It will be time enough then.” 

But Nellie was all unconscious of these thoughts, 
and now raised her head with a very tranquil look 
indeed. 

The girls had sweet voices, and both sang. All 
went well enough until the text was announced and 
the preacher was fairly under way with his sermon. 
Then the lady ahead of them, who sat under a 


32 


NELL AND NAN. 


window, gave a jump and began clawing the back of 
her neck. Presently she had a great black bug in 
her hand, that had been attracted into the church by 
the light, and nervously flung it from her. It fell 
directly at Nellie’s and Nannie’s feet. 

Nellie gathered up her skirts, and Nannie stretched 
out her foot to step on it. 

But it eluded her and scampered quickly over to 
the old lady, where the girls soon saw it racing up 
her sleeve. 

Nannie looked at Nellie, her eyes dancing with 
suppressed merriment. 

But Nellie puckered up her mouth with such a 
look of righteous horror, that Nannie giggled out- 
right. 

“For shame,” whispered Nellie; and then, as she 
saw the old lady again grabbing for the bug, she 
stuffed her handkerchief into her mouth, and really 
spurted out a laugh which was worse than Nannie’s 
giggle. 

The sermon was now entirely forgotten, and 
nothing thought of but the bug and the old lady’s 
annoyance; and I am sorry to say that first one 
giggled and then the other, until old Deacon Perry 
shook his head severely at them. This brought the 


NELL AND NAN. 


33 


girls to their senses, and with the greatest effort they 
regained their composure. 

“ You made me,” were the first words that Nellie 
said after church was out. 

“ Oh, I couldn’t help it,” laughed Naunie. “ You 
looked so comical trying to pretend you didn’t feel 
one hit like laughing, when you know you were ready 
to burst all the time.” 

“ But right there in church ! Somebody will be 
sure to tell mamma, and she will not let us go again.” 

“ I can’t help it. Deacon Perry would have 
laughed himself if he had seen that bug.” 

“ Indeed he would not. He would consider us 
sillier than ever if he knew what a trifle we were 
laughing over. I wonder if it isn’t the devil sends 
just such things along to hinder a body when they 
are trying to be good. I am sure I feel almost as 
bad as Eve did after she had eaten the apple — only it 
was a bug this time, instead of a serpent.” And 
Nellie laughed herself over what she considered her 
own wit. 

“ I say, Nellie, what did you put your head down 
for when you first went into church?” 

“Oh, I don’t know. Mrs; Perry always does. I 
guess all good people do.” 

c 


34 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ What do you suppose they do it for ? ” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ It looks to me as if they were praying. You 
didn’t pray, did you?” 

“ Me ? Oh, no,” said Nellie, with a startled look. 

“ Well, that’s what they do it for, I think,” said 
Nannie. “I am going to ask mamma. And I 
couldn’t help thinking all the time that Mrs. Perry 
and you were leaning down, that when I get to he 
a Christian I will pray to the Lord alone, in my 
own room, before I go. It looks to me, somehow, as 
if it were done for show, like those who pray to be 
seen of men, you know.” 

“ I am sure it is very wicked for you to say any 
such thing,” said Nellie, hotly. “ If good folks do 
it, they have a better reason than that.” 

" But the men never do it. And I suppose it is 
wicked for me to have such thoughts — but a woman’s 
fine bonnet does show off so nicely when her head is 
down.” 

“You are a wicked girl, Nan Clark; not trying to 
be good at all, and I am going to tell mother.” 

“ Please don’t; and I’ll be just as good as you can be. 
But I can’t help thinking, can I? Perhaps they 
don’t do it to show their bonnets. I guess they get 


KELL AND KAN. 


35 


ready in such a hurry that they forget to pray until 
they get there.” 

“ What do they want to pray for, anyhow?” 

“ Why, I suspect for God to bless the meeting, 
don’t you?” 

“ I don’t know. Perhaps some people are so good 
that they pray before they go to meeting and after 
they get there, too.” 

Nannie shrugged her shoulders, but made no 
reply. 

“ Now we must not forget our Bibles,” said Nellie, 
as she stood with her sister within their own little 
room. 

“ Where shall we read ? ” asked Nannie. 

“Oh, dear; I don’t know. Suppose we commence 
at the first of the book and read it all through.” 

“ That will take so long.” 

“ We can read two chapters every Sunday evening, 
and one each week day. I guess all good people 
read the Bible through — some two or three times. It 
would be nice to tell folks we had read the whole 
Bible through. I read once of a little girl only ten 
years old who had read the Bible through twice.” 

“ Dear me ! ” sighed Nannie. 

“ What do you look so melancholy over it for ? ” 


36 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ I was just wondering what kind of a little girl 
she must- be. Lame, like as not, or something 
else.” 

“ Oh, she was a real good little girl, of* course.” 

t( Nell Clark, there ain’t no such good girls as that 
in these days. They must belong to past ages.” 

“ We don’t know any here, Nan ; but there are a 
few somewhere. Ask mother. Have you your Bible? 
We will begin at the first chapter. You read one 
verse, and I will read the next, until we are through.” 

One verse followed another in rapid succession 
until the second chapter was begun. Then the girls 
yawned and seemed less interested. 

At last Nell was startled by hearing Nan say, 
“ Why, Nell Clark, you are going to sleep.” 

“ I told you morning was the best time. Then we 
are fresh and wide awake. Let us finish this chapter 
to-morrow morning,” said Nell, wearily. 

“ I don’t care,” and Nan slapped the book to with 
a long yawn. 

“ Somehow I don’t feel so sleepy as I did,” said 
Nell, after turning over in bed two or theee times. 

“ Why ? ” 

“Oh, I don’t know. I do feel dreadfully dissatis- 
fied with myself. One thing certain. I’ll never get 


NELL AND NAN. 


37 


to heaven in the world, if I am going to depend on 
my own goodness.” 

Nell, nobody does — do they? Isn’t there a verse 
like this : 

1 Just as I am, without one plea, 

But that thy blood was shed for me ’ ? ’ ’ 

“ Do you understand that, Nan ? ” 

“ No ; I must confess that I don’t. But it must 
mean something else more than our own goodness. It 
is something about Jesus.” 

“ All good people love Jesus.” 

“ Do you, Nell ? ” 

“ Why, of course I do.” 

“ I don’t believe it. I don’t believe anybody that 
loves Jesus gets to sleep reading the Bible, or laughs 
in church.” 

“ Oh, Nan, I am just as miserable as I can be, ain’t 
you?” 

“ No ; but I am just as good as you are, Nell, every 
bit.” 

“ Oh, Nan, you are better. It seems to me there 
never was such a wicked person as I in all the world. 
It seems to me that it just comes natural for me 
to be bad, and that there isn’t one good thing in 


38 


NELL AND NAN. 


“If we could once do some missionary work, I 
think we would feel better.” 

“ I wonder if Mrs. Harmer will have her girls 
ready to go to Sunday-school by next Sunday? Oh, 
Nan, how I would like to be a teacher and gather my 
own class from the hedges and byways ! ” 

“A pretty teacher you would make ! After the blun- 
ders you made to-day I shouldn’t think you would 
think of such a thing. How the girls laughed at that 
stupid question of yours, and Miss Daily just stared 
as if she couldn’t believe you were so ignorant.” 

“ Oh, Nan, this is the most miserable day I ever 
had.” 

“ Go to sleep and forget it, then. I am going to.” 

Nellie sighed, but turned over once more and went 
to sleep. 


CHAPTER Y. 


LITTLE STRANGERS. 

6 6 /AH, Nan, here comes the queerest-looking little 
^ fat girl and two boys.” 

“Well, what of it?” 

“ Why, they are trying to unlatch our gate. The 
little girl has a basket. They must be beggars.” 

“ We seldom find a beggar here.” 

“ But the little girl is barefooted, and the boys are 
real ragged.” 

“ What shall we do if they want something to eat?” 

“ Why, give it to them, of course.” 

“ But mamma is out, and she might not like it.” 

“ Why, mother is a Christian, Nan, and would not 
turn a person away from her door, if they were in 
distress. They are knocking at the door now. Oh, 
Nan, won’t it be a splendid chance to try to get them 
in Sunday-school? I wonder where they live.” By 
this time Nellie was at the door, closely followed by 
Nannie. 

“ Well, little girl, what do you want?” asked Nell, 
patronizingly. 


39 


40 


KELL AND NAN. 


“ Please, miss, have yon any cold pieces ? ” 

“ I suspect we have. Come in and sit down, while 
I go and see. Are you hungry ? ” 

“ Yes’m.” 

Nell disappeared down cellar, followed by Nan. 

“ What are you going to give them ? ” 

“ Something real nice, if I can find it.” 

“Won’t some of this bread and cold meat do?” 

“ No ; they can get that anywhere. I am going to 
be real good, and give them something that they have 
never had before. Here is half of a frosted cake and 
a whole lemon pie.” 

“But, Nell, you know mother wants that pie for 
to-morrow’s dinner, and the cake is for to-uight’s 
supper.” 

“ I don’t care. I reckon mother can bake some 
more for us. I should feel mean enough to give them 
just bread and meat, anything so common as that; 
and then, perhaps, if we treat them real nice, we can 
get them into Sunday-school. I am going to try when 
I go up. Here, you take the pie and I will take the 
cake. How nice this cake is, though ! I don’t believe 
they ever tasted anything so nice before.” And Nellie 
walked up to the little girl’s basket, and was sliding 
it off the plate, when she was not prepared for what 


NELL AND NAN. 


41 


followed. The little girl snatched it up before it fell, 
and commenced devouring it greedily, while the boys 
sprang upon her and tried to get it away from her. 
The little girl held on to the cake, and munched and 
swallowed until she was almost black in the face, 
kicking with her feet to the right and left. 

“ I say, Miss Greedy-gut, that isn’t fair,” cried the 
larger boy, clawing and scrambling. And the little 
girl was dragged to the floor, and a part of the cake 
taken from her ; but the larger portion fell to the 
clean kitchen floor and was trampled under foot. 

“ Haven’t you any manners at all ?” cried Nannie. 
“ Now, get up every one of you and behave your- 
selves or not a taste of this pie do you get. I’ll 
take it right back down cellar.” 

“ Please, miss, I won’t let ’em touch it,” cried the 
little girl, holding out her basket. 

“ Will you take it home to your mother, or haven’t 
you any mother?” 

“ Yes, ma’am.” 

“ Where do you live ? ” 

“ Please, miss, over at the mill, about a mile from 
here. We moved here last week,” said the little 
girl. 

Nellie was brushing up the bits of cake that had 


42 


NELL AND NAN. 


fallen to the floor, but she now looked up to say : 
“ Don’t you want to go to Sunday-school ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” said the little girl. “ Will they 
give a body anything ? ” 

“Oh, yes, indeed. Just the prettiest picture cards, 
and a little picture paper every Sunday.” 

“ I expects we hain’t got nuthin’ fit to wear,” said 
the little girl. 

“ Oh, if you come real clean, that won’t make any 
difference. I tell you what you do. You just come 
here next Sunday afternoon at two o’clock, and bring 
your brothers, and Nan and I will let you go with us.” 

“ Perhaps we would if we had some shoes.” 

“ Nan, how about those old shoes mamma threw in 
the barrel yesterday ? They wouldn’t look so bad if 
they were only blacked up. Yours would do for the 
little boy, mine for the little girl, and mamma’s fcr 
the big boy. They will last them a little while if 
they only wear them on Sundays.” 

Nan ran for the old shoes, and soon had them 
wrapped up in paper. 

“We should want some stockings, too,” said the 
little girl. 

“ I don’t know whether we have any old stockings 
or not,” said Nellie. “ I tell you what to do. Come 


NELL AND NAN. 


43 


here next Saturday afternoon, when mamma is at 
home, and I will see. If I only had some money 
now I would buy you all new pairs.” 

“ Ain’t there some money about the house that you 
could get ? ” 

“ If there was, I would have no right to it, because 
it is not mine. Haven’t you been taught the Ten 
Commandments ? ” 

“ Please, miss, what are them ? ” 

“ I can’t tell you all, they are so long. But come 
to Sunday-school, and you will find out.” 

“ Couldn’t you give me that locket and chain you’ve 
got around your neck ? ” asked the little girl. 

“This?” asked Nellie, in astonishment, as she 

I 

fingered the locket. “No, indeed. Why, these are 
pure gold, and were a Christmas present to us from 
our father.” 

“ Don’t you want some brass ? ” asked Nannie, her 
eyes dancing with fun. 

“Got any?” the little girl surprised her by saying. 
“ Why, yes, we’ll take it along. The old rag man 
gives sixteen cents a pound for it.” 

“ You don’t want any more ; you’ve got enough 
yourself.” And Nannie laughed until she held her 
sides. 


44 


NELL AND NAN. 


The children looked at her a moment in wonder- 
ment, and the oldest boy said : “ Come, Peg, ain’t you 
got wit enough to know they are making fun of you?” 

“ I guess we will, if they ain’t got anything more 
to give us. I call just some cake and pie, and these 
old shoes, as mean as can be.” 

“ You impudent ” commenced Nan, indig- 

nantly. 

“ Please don’t,” said Nellie. “ They don’t know 
any better, I suspect.” Then, turning to the little 
girl, she said, pleasantly : 

“ So your name is Peggy, is it ? ” 

“ Yes’m, and his is Jim,” pointing to the larger 
one, “and the tuther one’s name is Will.” 

“ Thank you, and be sure if you want anything 
more, to come here next Saturday afternoon.” 

“ Oh, we’ll be sure to come if you’ve got anything 
for us.” 

“I don’t know for certain. We will ask mother. 
Have you any father ? ” 

“ Yes’m,” replied the girl, slowly. 

“ Him’s in State Prison,” said the little boy. 

“ There, what did you tell that for ? ” said the little 
girl, slapping her brother in the mouth. “ Didn’t 
mother say we weren’t to tell that ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


45 


“ It doesn’t matter,” said Nellie. u I don’t suppose 
any of you can help that.” And she bowed the children 
out. 

“ I believe you are really getting good, Nell, after 
all. I never could have had so much patience with 
the little barbarians.” 

“ Oh, I wanted to get them into Sunday-school so 
bad. Won’t Mr. Newton be surprised when he sees 
us coming in with five new scholars? I can hardly 
wait for Sunday.” 

Later in the afternoon, as Mrs. Clark was getting 
supper, she called out to Nan : 

“ What in the world has become of all the pie and 
cake ? ” 

“ Why, mother, some beggar children were here 
this afternoon, and they looked so hungry that we 
gave it to them.” 

“ Indeed, without leave or license from anybody. 
I don’t choose to have you dispose of my property 
without my permission ; and as punishment, you and 
Nellie may do without cake and pie for a month.” 

u Mamma Clark ! ” exclaimed Nan. Then she 
burst into tears and rushed from the room ; for one 
of Nannie’s weaknesses was for sweet things. It 
seemed impossible for her to make a meal without 


46 


NELL AND NAN. 


either pie or cake. She would eat no supper at all 
under such restrictions, and an hour later Nellie 
found her under the arbor, her eyes red and swollen. 

“ That’s what comes of your hateful beggars,” she 
exclaimed, as her sister seated herself beside her. 
“ I hope I shall never set eyes on them again. It was 
all your fault, Nell Clark.” 

“ I know it, Nan, and so I told mother.” 

“ Did you, though ? ” 

“ Yes, I told her that you wanted to give them 
bread and meat, but I insisted on giving them pie and 
cake, and she said since the fault was mine, I might 
bear the punishment alone.” 

“ Oh, but, Nell, you know you like pie and cake, 
too, and a whole month is so long.” 

“ Not as well as you do, I don’t believe. And then I 
told her all about the children ; and mamma says if 
you and I are willing to darn up some of our old 
cast-off clothing we can give it to the little girl the 
next time she comes along; but as for the boys, we 
haven’t anything for them. Mamma said that perhaps 
if we would tell Mrs. Grey about it she would help 
us, as she has four or five boys all the time out- 
growing their clothes. Will you go with me this 
evening ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


47 


“ I’ll do anything, if I don’t have to do without 
the pie and cake. That wasn’t a bit fair.” 

“And now you had better go in and get your 
supper. I had to*- run over to the baker’s for a loaf 
of sponge cake. Mamma said she hoped I would 
never be so thoughtless again.” 

Two suits were obtained for the boys at Mrs. 
Grey’s, and, together with a whole rig for Peggy, 
w r ere hung upon chair- backs waiting for the future 
owners. 

Nellie had considerable taste for millinery, and with 
an old black straw hat and some cast-off scarlet pop- 
pies, she had made a very presentable bonnet. 

“ Won’t they be pleased, though?” said Nellie," 
standing back that she might the better survey the 
effect. 

“ Yes, if they don’t quarrel over them,” said 
Nan. 

“ Oh, they w T on’t be apt to do that. The boys 
won’t want Peggy’s things, and she won’t want theirs; 
and then, of course, the largest bov will want the 
largest suit, and the little fellow the smallest one. 
Oh, we have got them fixed now. I can hardly wait. 

I want to know so bad what they will say.” 

But the girls waited all the afternoon, and the 


48 


NELL AND NAN. 


children in whom they were so much interested never 
put in an appearance. 

“ Oh, they are humbugs,” said Nan, as she helped 
her sister fold away the things at night. 

“ Never mind,” said Nellie. “ I dare say we shall 
see them again some time ; and then, besides, we will 
have the Harmer girls.” But here again they were 
doomed to disappointment, when, on calling for the 
girls the next day, their mother met them at the door 
with many apologies that the new dresses were not 
done. 

It was with a long face that Nellie went into Sun- 
day-school that afternoon, two or three minutes late ; 
but as for Nan, she declared that she shouldn’t worry 
over what she couldn’t help, and nobody need go to 
Sunday-school for all she cared. But Nan did care, 
perhaps not so much as Nellie; but it was her way of 
bearing a disappointment. 


CHAPTER VI. 

NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL SCHOLARS. 



TIE next Wednesday afternoon Nell and Nan 


JL were surprised by another visit from the beggar 
children. 

“ Mother sent us here for some more cold pieces,” 
said the little girl, stretching out her basket. 


“ If you’re got any more of that ’ere pie or cake, 


we want that,” said the largest boy ; “ it was boss.” 

“ We can’t give you any more of that,” said Nellie, 
taking the basket. “ I guess mamma will let us give 
you some bread and meat and apples ; and oh, Peggy, 
we have got some of the prettiest things for you up- 
stairs. Why didn’t you come last Saturday after- 
noon?” 

“ Well, I declare !” exclaimed the little girl, hold- 
ing up both hands. “ If I didn’t forget every breath 
about it — didn’t you, Jim aud Will?” 

The little boys assented. 

“ What you got for us ? ” asked the little girl. 

“Oh, a whole suit of clothes — -just the prettiest hat 
and all,” said Nan. 


D 


49 


50 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ And for the bovs, too,” said Nellie. “ But you 
can’t see them until you get ready to come to Sunday- 
school. Now, I will tell you what we will do. If 
you will all come to our house next Sunday afternoon 
as early as one o’clock, you shall all have the clothes, 
be dressed in them, and go to Sunday-school ; but you 
can’t have them on any other conditions.” 

“ All right,” said the little girl, “ we’ll come, if 
nothing happens.” 

And they did come, all three, full half an hour 
before the appointed time. 

“ You came early,” said Nellie. 

“ Yes, indeed,” answered the little boy. “ Peg is 
always on hand when there’s anything for her.” 

“How about Willie?” asked Nannie, mischiev- 
ously. 

“Pooh! I don’t care,” said Willie, crowding his 
hands into his pockets. “Me and Jim jist come 
because Peg did. I’d jist as lieve keep on these old 
clothes as not. Boys ain’t so fond of being rigged up 
as girls.” 

“Perhaps they would rather have something to 
eat,” said Mrs. Clark. 

“Yes’m; I would any time,” replied Willie, look- 
ing hungrily at the lady. 


NELL AND NAN. 


51 


“ Well, girls, take them all to the dining-room, and 
give them their dinners. We have just finished ours.” 

“ Oh, thank ’e, ma’am ! ” exclaimed the little girl. 

“ Then, after dinner, come up into the bathroom, 
and take a thorough wash before putting on your 
clothes — the boys first, as they can help each other, 
and both dress at once.” 

Peggy pouted at this, but Nellie told her she should 
go up stairs with them into their own room, and have 
the tangles taken out of her hair while her brothers 
were washing. 

It was just two o’clock when the last button was 
fastened and the last bow tied, and then the children 
were led by Mrs. Clark into the parlor, while Nellie 
and Nannie completed their own toilets. 

“How do you feel?” asked Mrs. Clark, as she 
looked back on the trio following her. 

“ Stiff as a poker,” said Jim, as he clutched the 
clean white collar at his throat as if to make room to 
breathe. 

“As good as anybody now,” said Peggy, smoothing 
down the folds of her dress ; “ but I wish I could 
have a gold chain around my neck like your girls, 
and I would like to have lots of finger rings, and ear 
bobs, too.” 


52 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ It’s boss,” said Will, turning a somersault on the 
carpet, and landing so that his feet struck the bouquet 
table, and would have upset it if Mrs. Clark had not 
just caught it in time. 

“ That’s not the way to show your demonstration 
in a parlor,” said Mrs. Clark. “ I am glad, though, 
if you are all pleased. Here are some picture books 
to look at, if you will be careful.” 

Nellie and Nannie soon made their appearance ; and 
as Sunday-school commenced at half-past two, they 
started on their way, followed by their proteges. 

“ Shall we stop for the Harmer children ? ” asked 
Nannie. 

“ Of course,” said Nellie, unlatching the gate, and 
boldly walking up to the door. 

“Dear me!” said Mrs. Harmer, thrusting her 
head from an open window. “ I ain’t got them frocks 
done, and don’t know when 1 ever will. You’d bet- 
ter not stop again. When I get the children ready, 
I’ll let you know.” 

Nellie thanked the woman, and then hastened on. 

It was a very high head she carried as she marched 
up the long aisle of the church, closely followed by 
the children. 

“Here, Mr. Newton,” said she, loud enough for 


NELL AND NAN. 


53 


every one to hear, “ here are some new scholars we 
have brought you.” 

“ Thank you,” said Mr. Newton ; and then, turning 
to the school, he said : “ You all see what these little 
girls have done to-day. If you would all do as much, 
our school would soon be full to overflowing.” 

Nellie was very much flattered indeed, and so 
greatly was her head turned, that when her teacher 
asked her a question she answered “ No, sir,” instead 
of “No, ma’am,” much to the amusement of her 
classmates. 

The children were very much impressed with the 
services, but the money boxes were the greatest attrac- 
tion to the largest boy. 

“ What for do you have these ’ere things for ? ” he 
asked. 

“ Oh, we drop our pennies in there,” explained the 
teacher. 

“What for?” 

“ To give to the missionaries for the poor heathen, 
who have no one to tell them of the good God as you 
have.” 

“But how do you git it out?” asked Jim. 

“We don’t take it out but once a month, and then 
we unscrew the top from the boxes.” 


54 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Umph ! ” said Jim. “ It is purty near full now.” 
And he took up the box and shook it. 

“ No ; for all the boxes have just been emptied. In 
a month from now the boxes will make more of a 
jingle.” 

Jim put the box down ; and then, looking his 
teacher full in the face, said : “ Do you git any pay 
for comm’ here to teach these boys ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” smiled Mr. Glaspy. “ My Master pays 
me.” 

“Who is he?” 

“Jesus. He is the best kind of paymaster. He 
always pays his workers tenfold.” 

“Is he the great King you have just been telling 
us about, who was once as poor as I am, but now lives 
in glory?” 

“ Yes ; that is it. Don’t you love him ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” said Jim. “ I wonder if Peg and 
Will have been hearing about the same feller?” 

“ About the same great good King, for that is what 
all children come here for.” 

At that moment the bell tapped, and after singing 
a hymn the school dismissed. 

“How did you like our Sunday-school?” asked 
Nan. 


NELL AND NAN. 


55 


“ Party well,” said Peggy. 

“Will you come again next Sunday ?” asked 
Nellie. 

“ Why, I reckon, if we can have these nice clothes 
to wear.” 

“ To be sure ; but ypu must come in and put on 
your old ones now. Mamma thought it would be 
safest for you to leave them here, and come to our 
house every Sunday afternoon to dress. Then your 
clothes will always be nice.” 

“ I should like for mother to see ’em,” said Peggy, 
looking as if she were about to run away. 

“ Then let her come to Sunday-school, and I guess 
she’ll be surprised to see you all.” 

“ She won’t know us for her young ones,” said 
Willie. 

“ Pd like to have all the money that is in them ’ere 
boxes at the end of a month,” said Jim. 

“ That’s coveting, and very wicked,” said Nannie. 
“ You had better try to earn some pennies and help 
fill the boxes up.” 

“We’re just as poor as any of them ’ere heathen, 
and they’d better give the money to us,” said Jim, 
doggedly. 

Nellie now with many flourishes tried to explain to 


56 


NELL AND NAN. 


the boy how very much better off he was than the 
heathen, and how very wicked it was to covet any- 
thing that was to go to them. 

She succeeded in silencing the boy ; but he thrust 
his hands in his pockets and, with his head down on 
his bosom, seemed to be in deep thought. 







Nell and Nan 


Page 57 







CHAPTER VII. 


THE SUNDAY WALK. 

T HE girls were very much elated with their af- 
ternoon’s work. They were now really doing 
good, and must certainly be in the right path. The 
knowledge of this made them braver, so that when, an 
hour before supper, they were out taking a walk, and 
heard the sound of a saw in a side yard, Nellie, 
without a moment’s hesitation, stepped up to the gate 
and said, “ How can you be so wicked, Mr. Mealy, as 
to saw wood on Sunday ? God will be angry with 
you for breaking his commaudments.” 

“ Is that your business?” growled the man. 

“ It is our duty to tell you if you don’t know any 
better,” said Nellie. “ Why don’t you ever go to 
church ? ” 

“ Church folks are no better than other folks,” he 
replied. 

“ Wicked folks may think so,” said Nellie; “but 
they are heaps better.” 

“ Umph ! ” said the man. “ I suppose you are one 
of the meetin’ folks ? ” 


57 


58 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Yes, sir. Nannie and I go*regularly.” 

“ That’s what makes you so good, I suppose ? ” 

Nellie did not know what reply to make. 

“ Are you going to meetin’ now ? ” he asked. 

“ No, sir ; we are just out for a walk.” 

“ To show the fine rigging you have on, I reckon. 
Now the Lord hates pride as bad as he does Sabbath 
breaking. Have you ever heard that verse about 
motes and beams ? ” 

“ I don’t know as I ever have,” replied Nellie. 

“ First pluck out the beam from your own eye, and 
then you shall see better to pluck the mote from your 
brother’s eye.” 

“ A bean, did you say? ” asked Nannie. 

“ Ha, ha ! No, a beam. You know what a beam is, 
don’t you ? Something so large that if you had it in 
your eye you couldn’t possibly see a thing, I suspect.” 

“ Come away, Nell, and don’t let us talk with him,” 
said Nannie. 

“ It isn’t so pleasant to hear your own faults, is it ? 
Well, that is the way the world over.” And the man 
put his knee down on a stick of wood and went to 
sawing again. 

O O 

“ I wonder if it is wicked to be out taking a walk 
on Sunday?” said Nannie. 


NELL AND NAN. 


59 


“ Why, if we are only out to show our clothes, I 
suppose ; but aren’t we doing missionary work ? ” 

“.Oh, that only comes in to fill up our time. It 
w r asn’t our object when we started.” 

“ Suppose we make it our object now. Here is 
where Miss Tullins lives. She never thinks of 
going to church. Suppose we go in and see her.” 

“ I shouldn’t think you would feel like it after 
what the man said.” 

“ Oh, I don’t care for him ; come on.” So the two 
girls soon found themselves in the presence of a mid- 
dle-aged woman, who closed her Bible and put it away 
as they seated themselves. 

“ Do you love to read the Bible ? ” asked Nellie. 

“ Sometimes.” 

“Why don’t you like to read it all the time?” 
asked Nellie, smoothing out a wrinkle in her 
glove. 

“ It depends much on the state of mind I am in, I 
suppose. Sometimes I can find much comfort in it ; 
at other times I am reading but so many meaningless 
words.” 

“ Why don’t you ever go to church ? ” inquired 
Nellie. 

“ I haven’t any bonnet to wear.” 


60 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ No bonnet ! ” said Nellie. “ Why, Miss Tullins, 
isn’t that pride ? 99 

“ It becomes everybody to have decent pride.” 

“ But the Lord hates a proud heart,” said Nellie. 

“ Let me show you my old bonnet. I guess such 
young ladies as you would giggle right out if you 
were to see such a sight coming in church. I hear 
that you laugh at much less than that.” 

Nellie made no reply, but looked down to her 
shoes. 

“ Here it is,” said the little woman ; “ now, isn’t it 
a beauty ? ” And she laughed heartily. 

“ You ought to have a new bonnet, Miss Tullins. 
Nan and I will go around and beg enough to get you 
one.” 

“ Beg, indeed ! ” said Miss Tullins. “ I hope you 
don’t think I am not able to get me a new bonnet. I 
am not just ready yet.” And she curled her lips. 

“But you said it was for the want of a bonnet that 
you don’t go to church,” said Nellie. 

“ What if I did ? 1 reckon I never did have any- 

thing begged for me, nor ever shall have. I think 
you girls had better wait until you are older before 
you come to folks three times older than yourselves.” 

“ I think we had better go,” said Nannie, rising. 


NELL AND NAN. 


61 


Miss Tullins followed and slammed the door after 
them. 

“ Now you have made her mad,” said Nan. 

“ Dear me ! I wish folks would do somehow,” said 
Nellie, with a sigh. 

“ Perhaps we don't do somehow,” said Nan. 

“ I guess Mr. Newton thought so when we brought 
new scholars into Sunday-school.” 

“ But they behaved so awkwardly I was ashamed 
of them.” 

“ Then you ought to have been ashamed of your- 
self, Nan Clark.” 

“ I am not as proud as you are when I do a little 
good.” 

“ I think it is real mean for you to say that.” And 
there were tears in Nellie's eyes. 

“ I am going home to read my Sunday-school 
book.” 

“ We haven't been past Jennie Everham's house 
yet.” 

“ What do you want to go past there for ? ” 

“ I thought perhaps we might see Jennie out.” 

“ What do you want to see her for ? ” 

“ I want to see why she was not out to Sunday- 
school.” 


62 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Oh, Nell, there is old Martin at his window. He 
hasn’t been to church for weeks and weeks. How 
pale he looks ! Let us go in and see him.” 

u Old Martin is a nice man,” said Nellie. “ I wish 
we had something for him.” 

“ He’ll be sure to tell us a story.” 

Martin was real glad to see the girls, and he held 
both hands out to them without getting up. 

“ Why, Mr. Martin, are you sick?” asked Nannie. 

“ Yes, you dear little ladies, old Martin’s work is 
almost done.” 

“You don’t think you are going to die?” asked 
Nellie. 

“ I am afraid so, little ones, and I take it real kind 
in you coming to see an old man like me.” 

“ Oh, we have been doing missionary work all^ 
day,” smiled Nellie. “‘We had three new scholars 
for Sunday-school.” And then the girls gave a graphic 
account of the beggar children and all they had done 
for them. 

“ It is very good to them you were,” said Martin. 
“ I wish somebody would be as good to me.” 

“ Why, Mr. Martin, aren’t you comfortable?” asked 
Nellie. 

“Oh, yes, pretty much; but I have no one to do 


NELL AND NAN. 


63 


for me, and I get pretty tired sitting here day after 
day. I shall be glad when my Master sends to take 
me home.” 

“Do you have everything you want?” asked 
Nannie. 

“ Bless you, no. Can’t expect it, of course, unless I 
had more money. Now, I have been wanting some 
grapes -for a week, so bad that I have asked my Lord 
to send them, but they don’t come.” 

“Oh, Mr. Martin,” said Nellie, taking his hand, 
“ we haven’t a grape. I wish we had. If we could 
only go to the city, we would buy them for you.” 

“Won’t you tell us a story before we go, Mr. 
Martin ? ” asked Nannie. 

“ What kind of a story ? ” 

“ An Indian story, if you please. One of your own 
encounters.” 

“ Then I must tell you a Sunday story. When I 
was a little fellow, say not more than eight, I used to 
go with my father to church every Sunday — and how 
do you suppose we went ? ” 

“ I never could guess,” said Nellie. 

“We went on foot — you can’t guess how far?” 

“ No,” said the girls. 

“ Five miles, and most of the way lay through deep, 


64 


NELL AND NAN. 


dark woods. My father never went without his gun 
on his shoulder.” 

“ To shoot bears ? ” 

“ No , Indians. They were dreadful hostile in them 
parts when I was a little boy. We never knew just 
when we were going to be attacked. Well, one very 
hot day, I remember that there were some ten or 
twenty of us, all going to church at a time, and every- 
body carried a gun. We hardly expected to get 
through the woods alive, for we had heard of some 
dreadful butchery that had happened some twenty 
miles below us the night before ; but we did get to 
church, and the parson was right in the midst of his 
sermon when the most awful whoops and yells startled 
us all. Everybody sprang to their feet and seized 
their guns, even to the preacher, and then the firing 
began ; and all was smoke and noise and confusion.” 

“ Dear me, what did you do ? ” asked Nannie. 

(i I just crept under a pew, and nobody saw me. 
As our people pressed hard after the Indians, I dared 
not stir, so afraid an Indian would lurk about to take 
my scalp with his dreadful knife. Soon all grew very 
quiet, and I was left alone. Then it grew dark, and 
still I crouched under the pew. I remained there all 
night.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


65 


“ Oh, I never should have dared,” said Nellie. 

“ I wasn’t half so afraid of the darkness as of the 
Indians. But when the next morning came I crept 
out, still shivering with fear, and then a ghastly sight 
met my view. A dead Indian lay just outside of the 
door, and a little further on lay others, some white 
men and some Indians. I covered my face with my 
hands, for I was so afraid that one of the dead men 
was my father ; and then I streaked it through the 
woods like lightning, and never stopped until I 
reached home.” 

“ Wasn’t you dreadfully tired ? ” asked Nan. 

“ Tired? Yes, so tired that I just rolled into the 
house.” 

“ Was your mother there ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ What did she do ? ” 

“She just give a terrible shriek, and then picked 
me up and wept over me. My father was killed, 
and she supposed I had shared the same fate. We 
soon left that place, my mother and I, and went 
to safer quarters. My mother was young and pretty, 
and soon married again — a man who was always good 
to me; but he was not like my own father after all 
that.” 

E 


66 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ No, I reckon not,” said Nellie. “ Well, we must 
go, now, Mr. Martin. Mamma will wonder what has 
become of us.” 

“ Come again, misses.” 

“Oh, we shall,” replied the girls, as they went 
out. 

“ I say, Nell, we ought to have done something for 
old Martin before we left.” 

“ What could we have done ? ” 

“ Why, there was his bed, looked as if it hadn’t 
been made for a month; and there was a whole pile 
of dirty dishes we could have washed.” 

“Yes, I suppose so, with our best dresses on,” said 
Nellie. 

“ Let us go and see him again, with our every-day 
clothes on.” 

“ To-day?” 

“ Oh, no ; some other time, of course.” 

“I would rather take him some grapes than any- 
thing. Poor fellow, how bad he wants them ! ” 

“ You always want to do something we can’t.” 

“Anybody can wash dishes and piake beds. I 
would so much rather do something that no one else 
can do.” 


“ Suppose everybody felt that way.” 


KELL AND NAN. 


67 


“ Why then it would be a sorry world, I suppose.” 
And Nellie laughed. 

“ It seems to me that being good ought to take up 
things and do them as we find them, be they ever so 
little.” 

“ Then why don’t you do it?” 

“ I don’t know. I suppose it is because I don’t 
like to do them no more than you. You know I 
always wait for you.” 

Nellie felt like saying : “ Well, don’t pattern after 

me. I am not so perfect.” But her pride was gratified. 
It was pleasant to have any one following her. So she 
kept silent. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

AN INTERESTING SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOOK. 

T HE next Sunday it was Nell’s and Nan’s turn to 
go to church in the morning. 

“Oh, Nell, here comes Miss Tullins,” said Nan. 

“ Going up to the other church,” said Nan. “I 
didn’t know she ever went there.” 

“ Because she is mad at us, I reckon. See what a 
fine new bonnet she has, all spangled and flowers ! 
Oh my ! ” 

“ S — h ! — don’t make fun.” 

“ But see how she tosses her head ! She thinks she 
is making us feel awfully bad, when we wanted her 
so much to go to our church.” 

“ Hush ! she will hear you.” 

“ Good-morning,” said Nellie. 

But the little woman made no reply. She merely 
gave her head another toss, and sailed right on by. 

“ Oh my ! she is mad as hops,” said Nan. 

“ I am real sorry,” said Nell ; “ but I am sure it is 
better for her to go to any meeting than to stay at 
home. Perhaps she will be benefited.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


69 


“ Oh, Nell,” whispered Nan, as soon as they were 
seated in the church, u Mr. Mealy is here.” 

“ Where?” 

“ Only two or three pews behind us.” 

Nellie turned around with Nan for a moment and 
encountered Mr. Mealy’s eyes fixed amusedly on 
them. 

“ I am so glad,” whispered Nell. 

“ It appears we didn’t make him so mad, after all.” 

“ It is so nice to do good. I do hope we are going 
to have a real nice day.” 

u Is my bonnet straight ? It feels as if it was all 
‘ gee-hawed.’ ” 

“ Yes, is mine?” 

“ You just look lovely, and there is the prettiest 
young man up in the choir looking right at you.” 

“ Hush, here comes Mr. Newton.” 

“ I wish mamma would let us sit up in the choir.” 

“ She says we are not old enough.” 

u We are as old as some of the rest.” 

“ Hush — don’t you see Mr. Newton is about to give 
out the hymn ? ” 

Mr. Newton was called a very learned preacher by 
many of his hearers, and was consequently very pop- 
ular with the older portion ; but the younger ones 


70 


NELL AND NAN. 


confessed that they scarcely understood a dozen words 
in each sermon. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” whispered Nan, as he commenced. “ I 
do hope he will remember that there is somebody here 
to-day who does not know just as much as he does.” 

Nellie shook her head reprovingly, and fixed her 
eyes intently upon the preacher. 

“Now,” thought she to herself, “all good people 
listen to every word a preacher says, and I am going 
to do it to-day if I don’t understand a word. Besides 
being bad manners, it looks real ignorant to not seem 
interested.” But Nellie had a hard time of it. Never 
once did she take her eyes from the preacher’s face 
until she heard Nan give a little laugh. 

“What now?” she thought, with a reproving look 
at her sister, and again she turned her attention to the 
speaker. But his theology was growing deeper and 
deeper. Nellie was beginning to feel it harder and 
harder. At last she lost the thread of his discourse 
entirely, and began to interest herself in seeing how 
many times the words he used commenced with a , b , 
and so on clear down to the end of the alphabet. She 
went down until she came to x ; but the preacher used 
no word commencing with that letter, and at last she 
let that one go and went on to y and z. Again she 


NELL AND NAN. 


71 


commenced with a, and longed for the end ; but it 
seemed a long time coming, and when it did come, she 
sighed and wished she was older. 

“ Such a dry, poky old sermon, nobody ever heard,” 
growled Nan, as they were on their way home. 

“ S — h, you shouldn’t talk about the sermons.” 

“I never saw you listen like you did to-day. You 
must be growing as wise as an owl. Say, Nell, what 
was the text ? and what did his seventhly and four- 
teenthly amount to, after all ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” said Nell, “ but what were you 
laughing at in church?” 

“ I was thinking of something.” 

“ What was it ? ” 

“ Why I got almost asleep, and I happened to think 
how one preacher told another he could keep awake 
if he felt ever so sleepy.” 

“ How was it ? ” 

“ He told him to hold one foot up.” 

“ Did you ? ” 

“ Yes, I tried it.” 

“ How did it work ? ” 

“ It made me so tired that it seemed to me I was 
sleepier than ever. I just happened to think of it, and 
it made me laugh.” 


72 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Dear me ! there are those dreadful children 
already ? ” 

“What did you come so early for?” asked 
Nannie. 

“ Why, to get our new clothes on, to be sure ; and 
mother says if we can’t have them to wear home, that 
we can’t go to Sunday-school any more,” said the 
little girl. 

“Oh, dear! what shall we do?” said Nellie to 
Nannie. 

“ Let them have them, of course.” 

“Will you take good care cf them ? ” 

“ Just as good care as you take of them,” said 
Peggy. 

“ Well, come in and get washed and dressed, and 
after Sunday-school you can wear them home.” 

Mrs. Clark did not approve of the plan, but finally 
concluded they could do no better ; and after many 
bits of advice to the children, they went home after 
Sunday-school proudly enough, each one bearing a 
bundle of old clothes. 

“ Shall you go out for a walk this afternoon ? ” 
asked Nan of Nell. 

“ Not this afternoon. I want to stay at home and 
read my Sunday-school book. It is beautiful.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


73 


“ Can’t I read it with you ? Mine is a dry, poky 
thing. I know by the looks of it.” 

“Come on, then. I am going away down to the 
bottom of the garden to our seat behind the currant 
bushes, where nothing will disturb us.” 

The book was so entertaining, that the girls were 
soon so deep in its pages as to be entirely unaware 
of anything around them. 

Once, indeed, Nannie paused, and said : “ Hark ! 

isn’t that mamma calling us ? ” 

“Oh, dear, I hope not; for we have just reached 
the most interesting chapter,” said Nell. 

“'Yes, Nell, there is no mistake. Mamma is really 
calling us.” 

“ Yes, I know,” replied Nellie, absently ; “ but just 
wait until we get to the end of this chapter.” 

The end of the chapter was reached, and as all was 
still, another was commenced ; and the girls were as 
much interested as if they had had no interruption. 

The sun at last went down, and they were still 
reading, forgetful of everything else, when a hasty 
step was heard upon the gravel, and the next moment 
the currant bushes were parted, and their mother 
stood before them, her eyes flashing, and her cheeks 
burning with anger. 


74 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Why did you not. come when I called you?” she 
asked, sternly. 

“ Why, mother, did you call us ? ” asked Nellie, 
looking up, guiltily. 

“ We must have been so much interested in our 
reading as not to have heard you,” said Nannie. 

“ Go on up to the house,” said Mrs. Clark, with a 
commanding gesture. “You are making a pretty 
mess of trying to be good, to hide away from your 
mother, and pretend you didn’t hear, when I wanted 
you so bad to tend to Charlie, while I got supper.” 

“Where is he?” asked Nellie. 

“ He has gone to sleep at last, and I want you to 
take good care of him while I go to meeting; but, 
here, hand me that book before I go. I don’t intend 
to have you neglecting him while I am away.” 

“Please, mamma, let us finish it. We are almost 
through.” 

“ If you have no regard for my wishes, I don’t see 
why I should have for yours. You can read your 
Bibles, if you want to read anything.” 

“ Oh, dear ! ” sighed Nellie, after she and Nan were 
left alone with their little brother. “ I wish mamma 
was more like the mothers we read about in Sunday- 
school books.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


75 


“ Why, how are they?” asked Nan. 

“ Why, they never get mad at anything, and always 
talk just as sweet and pleasant as can be.” 

“ Better wish that you and I were more like girls 
in the Sunday-school books then — hadn’t you ? ” 

“ I — I wish it wasn’t so hard to be good,” stam- 
mered Nellie. 

“ That was mean in us never letting on we heard 
mamma, when we heard her all the time.” 

“ And then trying to sneak out of it, that was 
worse than all. Oh, Nan, I am afraid it was as bad 
as lying.” 

“ Let us tell mamma, and ask her to forgive us.” 

“ If she were only like the mothers in Sunday- 
school books, I think I would ; but you know it 
would make mamma angrier than ever to know for 
certain we did not choose to respond when she called.” 

“ Maybe so, and maybe not. We have never 
tried.” 

“ Mamma said we were to read our Bibles — poor 
neglected books! Nan, we haven’t read the Bible 
worth a cent. We will never get through at this 
rate. Oh, dear ! I wish it wasn’t so dull.” 

“ Some of it is real interesting.” 

“ Yes, the stories ; but we know them all by heart.” 


76 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ We are growing old enough to take in some of 
the solid portions as we go along.” 

u Any one might think to hear you talk that you 
were two years older than I, instead of me having as 
many years the advantage of you.” 

“ Well, let us read, whether we like it or not.” 

“ I will, even if we do it as a penance. I have 
heard of people commencing to read the Bible when 
they nearly hated it, and yet, in spite of themselves, 
becoming interested at last. We will hope it may be 
the same way with us.” And opening their Bibles, 
the girls began to read, and never stopped until they 
had finished five chapters. 

“ There, I call that a good beginning,” said Nellie, 
closing her book with a slap. 

“ Do you know one word we have read ?” 
u Let me see — why — no — I believe not.” 

“ Nor I. Now wouldn’t it be better to read five 
verses, than five chapters, if we can get the sense of 
it?” 

“ We should never get through at that rate.” 

“ And what good will it do to get through, if we 
can’t remember a word we have read ? ” 

Nellie made no reply, but sat pondering the subject 
until her mother came home. 


CHAPTER IX. 


ALL ABOUT SOME GRAPES. 

I T was a day late in August that Nell and Nan were 
in the cemetery, walking around among the tomb- 
stones, reading the inscriptions, and gathering flowers 
from their own and some of their relatives’ lots. 

“I don’t know why I like cemetery flowers so 
well,” said Nellie, “ but I have a strange fancy for 
them. I like to have them in a vase at home. It 
seems to me that the spirits of the dead might hover 
around them, and thus be near me.” 

“ Ugh !” shivered Nan. “ I didn’t know you were 
silly; for who would want ghosts in the house? Do 
throw them away.” 

“ Nan, would it be so terrible if the spirit of our 
dear little Fanny were around us all the time? ” 

“ Ugh ! I don’t know. I don’t like to think of 
dead folks at all.” 

“Not the cold dead bodies, of course, but the 
bright, shiuing spirits. They must be very beautiful, 
*Nan.” 

“ What is a spirit ? 


77 


78 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ I don’t know as I can define it, but I suppose it 
is the thinking part of us that flies from the body the 
very moment it dies.” 

“Oh, dear! I wish I knew. I wish I knew 
everything.” 

“ Then there would be no pleasure in learning.” 

“It seems to me you are deeper than usual this 
afternoon.” 

“ I always have what you call odd thoughts when 
I am in a cemetery, but I think they are the most 
beautiful thoughts I have. Oh, Nan, look there ! ” 

“ What is it ? ” 

“ Don’t you see those grapes? They are beginning 
to turn. See ! there are two great clustering bunches, 
as ripe as they can be.” 

“ So there are. Let us get them for poor old Mr. 
Martin.” 

“I wonder if we dare?” 

“Of course we dare. Didn’t the sexton say we 
could have any fruit that grows here? Don’t you 
remember the blackberries we picked down along the 
edge of the fence ? ” 

“ Yes ; but don’t you see, though, the grapes hang 
over. The root is over in Mr. Newton’s lot.” 

“There is a law something about that. I think 


NELL AND NAN. 


79 


all the fruit that hangs over a person’s yard is his. 
Don’t you remember that mamma has all the fruit 
that hangs over in our yard, and our neighbors have 
all of ours that hangs over theirs?” 

“ That’s so, Nan. You are right. Besides, we 
want these so bad for a poor sick man. Climb up on 
the fence, and pick them, and I will stand here and 
catch them. Won’t poor old Mr. Martin be glad?” 

Nan soon had the grapes picked, and they lay in 
purple clusters gathered up in Nell's white apron, 
when a voice was heard and hurried footsteps. 

The girls started and ran. 

“ Stop, thieves. Drop those grapes ! ” exclaimed an 
excited voice; and the girls turned around to see Mr. 
Newton in pursuit, flourishing a horsewhip. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” said Nellie ; “ it is Mr. Newton. 
What shall we do ?” 

“Drop them, of course. We don’t want the nasty 
grapes if they are his.” And so Nellie dropped them 
in the grass, and soon she and Nan were beyond the 
irate preacher’s voice, entirely out of his sight. 

“Nan,” said Nellie, at last stopping to catch her 
breath, “ I was never so insulted in my life. And to 
think by Mr. Newton.” And she commenced to 
laugh hysterically. 


80 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ To think of his calling its thieves. I can’t bear 
him.” 

“I shall never get over this mortification as long as 
I live.” 

“I wonder if he will tell -everybody?” 

“ Dear me ! how do I know ? ” And Nellie began 
to cry. 

“ Suppose he had hit us with that dreadful whip,” 
said Nan. 

“ I shall never like him again as long as I live,” 
said Nellie. 

The girls were so quiet that night at the supper 
table that their mother asked more than once what 
was the matter. 

“ Nan,” said Nellie, after they had retired to their 
beds, “ are you asleep yet ? ” * 

“ No,” said Nan. 

“ Neither am I ; and I feel as if I never could 
sleep again. I have been lying here thinking it all 
over, and I have concluded to write Mr. Newton a 
letter.” 

“ What kind of a letter?” 

“ A real scorcher. You shall see when I get it 
done.” And Nellie arose, lighted a lamp, and hunted 
for writing materials. 


NELL AND NAN. 


81 


“ I hope you are uot going to write now, in the mid- 
dle of the night ? ” 

“Yes, I must write while my heart is burning with 
the insult. He shall learn if we are children, we can 
feel.” 

Nellie was so excited that her hand flew over the 
paper, a tear of indignation dropping now and then 
on the page. 

“Now read it to me,” said Nan, as , she saw her 
sister folding it up. 

“Woe unto him who offendeth one of these little ones ; for 
he had better have a millstone tied around his neck and be 
cast into the sea. Mr. Newton, you have offended two of 
your little ones, and all because of two paltry bunches of 
grapes. We did not know they were yours, because they hung 
over into the cemetery. We wanted them for a poor sick 
man. You called us thieves, and have disgraced us forever. 
A preacher who doesn’t better know how to feed his lambs 
had better resign. I don’t know what papa and mamma will 
say when they hear about it ; and we were trying so hard to 
be good, too ; but I feel now as if I hadn’t the heart to ever 
try again. 

“From Nellie and Nannie Clark.” 

“That’s first-rate,” said Nannie, settling herself 
comfortably among the pillows. “ How will you 
send it ? ” 


“ By mail, of course.” 


82 


NELL AND NAN. 


So next day the letter was stamped and dropped 
into the letter-box, in front of the post-office door, as 
the girls were on their way to school. 

“ It is early' yet,” said Nell ; “ let us stop in and see 
how old Martin is. I will give him this bouquet I 
intended taking to the teacher.” 

The girls knocked at the door, and to his faint 
“ come in ” they turned the knob, and entered the 
room. 

Mr. Martin was sitting up iu bed feasting on 
grapes. 

“ You see that the Lord has sent me just what I 
wanted,” said old Martin, picking off the grapes, one 
by one, with his thin forefinger and thumb, and trans- 
ferring them to his lips in eagerness. 

“ I think I must have fever, they do seem to cool 
and refresh me so.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Martin, where did you get them ? ” asked 
Nan. 

“ Mr. Newton brought them to me.” 

Nannie looked at Nellie and both blushed fiery 
red. 

Then Nellie said : “ Some one has been here and 
made your bed and swept your room ?” 

“ Oh, yes, Mrs. Newton often comes in and does 


NELL AND NAN. 


83 


just such drudgery for me. She is one of the best 
women that ever lived.” 

“ Let us go,” whispered Nellie to Nan. 

“Aren’t you going to give him the bouquet?” 

“ Oli, yes. Mr. Martin, here are a few flowers, if 
you like them.” 

“ My friends and blessings are many, praise the 
Lord. Just get that glass from the cupboard and put 
them in water, will you, and then bring them here 
and put them on the table where I can see them. 
Can’t you stay a while longer ? ” 

“ No, or we will be late at school. We thought we 
would just stop a moment and see how you are,” said 
Nellie. 

“ I am gradually growing weaker ; but the Lord is 
with me. 1 His rod and his staff, they comfort me.’ ” 

“ Well, good-bye now, Mr. Martin. We will bring 
you some pears, as soon as they are ripe,” said Nannie. 

“ Good-bye, and may the Lord bless you.” 

“ Oh, Nan, I never was so ashamed in my life ! ” 
exclaimed Nellie, as they reached the street. 

“ Nor I. To think that Mr. Newton had to guard 
his grapes with a horsewhip because he wanted poor 
old Martin to have them — the very first bunches he 
had.”. 


84 


NELL AND NAN. 


Nellie laughed hysterically. 

“ We needn’t think we are all the good people in 
the world.” 

“Good!” groaned Nellie, “I am just as bad as I 
can be. I would give anything to recall that dread- 
ful letter.” 

“ It will hurt his feelings awfully.” 

“ Don’t I know it ? And he such a good man, after 
all. That’s what hurts me so. If we had only gone 
to him and apologized, as we ought to have done, 
how different we would feel ! But no, I must let my 
evil temper get the better of my judgment.” 

“ Well, I wouldn’t worry any more about it.” 

“ I cannot help it ; for I am humiliated clear down 
to the dust.” 


CHAPTER X. 


IN THE RIGHT WA.Y AT LAST. 

I T was Saturday afternoon, the next day after the 
visit of Nell and Nan to old Martin, that, as they 
were both in the back yard swinging in the hammock 
with little Charlie between them, the front gate clicked, 
and Nan gasped out : 

“ Oh, Nell, here comes Mr. Newton.” 

Nellie gave one frightened look, then picking up 
Charlie, she started down the garden followed by Nan- 
nie, and never stopped until she had reached their seat 
behind the currant bushes. 

“ I wonder if he saw us ? ” she asked. 

“ No, I think not ; for he was looking straight at 
the door,” said Nan. 

“And now he will tell mother all about it.” 

“ I suspect so.” 

At that moment their mother’s voice was heard, 
calling them. 

“ Oh, dear, he wants to see us ! ” gasped Nell. 

“ Ugh ! I’d most as soon face a lion in his den,” 
said Nan. 


85 


86 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ What shall we do? ” asked Nellie. 

“ Do — why we have got to go, of course. But don’t 
look so frightened, Nell. You are actually pale.” 

“ I feel as if I would like to sink somewhere out of 
sight.” 

“ Come on, I am going. He can’t any more than 
scold us. He hasn’t his horsewhip along,” said Nan. 

Nellie shivered, then laughed, aud followed her 
sister. 

“ Here, girls,” said their mother, who was standing 
at the door waiting for them, “ let me have Charlie. 
Mr. Newton is in the parlor, and wants to see you 
both.” 

Nan led the way, followed by the trembling Nell. 

“ Girls,” said the preacher, rising, with a hand ex- 
tended for each, “ I came here to-day to ask your par- 
don for mistaking you for thieves. If my eyesight 
were only a little better, I should have seen who you 
were and been more gentle. I was saving the grapes 
for poor old Martin, and, of course, I knew nothing 
about your motives.” 

Nellie covered her face with her hands and burst 
into tears. 

“ I am sorry I have made any of my little ones feel 
so bad.” And now there were tears in his own eyes. 


NELL AND NAN. 


87 


“ Oh, Mr. Newton, 1 ” sobbed Nellie, “ it is we who 
ought to ask your pardon. We had no right to the 
grapes unless we asked you for them. We might 
have known you would prize them, as they were the 
first, though they did hang over the fence.” 

“ I should not have cared a fig, if I had not prom- 
ised them to poor old Martin,” said the preacher. 

“We wanted them for him, too, but ought to have 
asked you; and oh, sir, I cannot tell why we didn’t.” 

“ Don’t be so distressed about it. Old Martin got 
the grapes, after all, and no harm is done.” 

“But I can’t help it,” sobbed Nellie; “for Nan 
and I have been trying so hard to be good ever since 
our teacher went away. But it seems the more we 
try the worse we feel.” 

“ Perhaps you try in your own strength ? ” 

“ I don’t know, but I am afraid we have not got 
into the right path,” groaned Nellie. 

“We came to your house one day when you were 
gone to see the picture called the ‘Many Ways,’ and 
we thought we picked out the right one ; but I guess 
we didn’t,” explained Nan. 

“ The right one,” said the pastor, “ was a narrow 
dark, dreary-looking way, but with a dazzling light 
at the end.” 


88 


NELL AND NAN. 


“Oh, we didn’t choose that at all,” said Nan. 
“ There were so few going that way, and the way was 
so dark and narrow.” 

“Straight and narrow is the way that leads to 
eternal life, but few there be who find it,” said the 
preacher. “ I suppose you chose the way strewn with 
flowers ?” 

“ Oh, no, sir, we didn’t,” spoke up Nellie. “ We 
took up the path strewn with rocks. We thought it 
was the right way because so many stood by and 
applauded. We did not expect or seek an easy way.” 

“ But Christ has said ‘ My yoke is easy and my 
burden light.’ ” 

The girls looked mystified. 

“You have indeed got into the wrong path,” said 
the pastor, feelingly. “At the end of the dark and 
narrow path the dazzling shining light was made by 
Jesus. He never lets his dear ones travel alone 
without giving them light, and the farther they go 
the lighter it becomes.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, that is beautiful,” said Nellie, 
smiling through her tears. “ But how shall we get 
in the right path now ? ” 

“ The path you have chosen gives you no satisfac- 
tion?” 


NELL AND NAN. 


89 


“ Oh, no, sir.” 

“ Then why not retrace your steps? You have not 
gone so far that you cannot return, have you? ” 

“ Oh, no, sir.” 

“ Thank God for that. And then you are willing 
to enter the narrow way, though it is dark, are you 
not?” 

“ Oh, if we only could,” said Nellie, earnestly. 

“ There is nothing in the world to hinder you, my 
dear children, for you must know you cannot bay 
your salvation. It has all been purchased long ago 
by Jesus, with his blood, and now all lie asks 
of you is to repent of your sins, believe and be 
baptized.” 

“ What is it to repent ? ” asked Nannie. 

“To feel very sorry for your sins, and turn to 
Christ Jesus for forgiveness.” 

“ But how shall we know when he forgives us ? ” 
asked Nellie. 

“ Call upon him and he will hear. He never turns 
any away. Have you prayed ? ” 

“ Oh, sir, we didn’t know how to say anything but 
the prayer we learned when we were little, and I sup- 
pose we have said it so many times that we don’t feel 
it as we ought,” said Nellie. 


90 


NELL AND NAN. 


“My dear girls, praying is simply asking Jesus for 
just what we want. If you will get down on your 
knees and tell Jesus that you are sorry for all your 
sins and want him to forgive you, he will surely do it 
because he has said so; and you know his word is 
truth.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, if you will please pray for us 
just this once, perhaps we will understand better,” 
said Nellie, eagerly, and with tears in her eyes. 

Then Mr. Newton knelt and poured out his soul in 
prayer for these particular two lambs of his fold, and 
when he arose Nellie whispered : “ Oh, sir, I think I 
understand. I only want to get alone with Jesus 
now, and I think I shall know just what to ask him. 
And, sir, can you ever forgive the ugly letter I wrote 
you ? Oh, Mr. Newton, I said you didn’t know how 
to feed the lambs ; but you do, splendidly, and I don’t 
want you to resign at all.” And Nellie again burst 
into tears. 

“ My dear child, don’t ever mention it again. I 
certainly was too hasty, and perhaps your letter has 
or may do me good. I certainly wish to feed the 
lambs, but perhaps have not understood them as I 
should. Now, I have an idea. I will meet the 
lambs every Saturday afternoon in my study just for 


NELL AND NAN. 


91 


talks, and they shall have the liberty of bringing me 
any question they choose.” And he held out a hand 
to each. 

“ Oh, sir, we would be so pleased to come if you 
will be bothered with us. Nan and I have wanted to 
know so much, but we were afraid to ask anybody,” 
said Nellie. 

“ I will go now, and give Nellie a chance to seek 
for herself the pardon she so much craves. Good- 
bye, little ones, and may God bless you.” 

Nellie ran up stairs to her room, but when she 
kneeled down by her bed she found that Nan was 
there with her. 

“ Oh, Nell, let me pray too,” pleaded the child, with 
tears in her eyes. 

Nellie passed her arms around her sister’s neck, and 
with many broken words lifted her soul to God. 

She had prayed but a little while, when she looked 
up and said : “ Oh, Nan, I believe God has blessed 
me. I do feel so happy, don’t you ? ” 

“ No,” said Nan ; “ I feel just as I always did.” 

“ It is only trust Jesus, Nan. It is so sweet and so 
easy.” 

“ I don’t believe I have felt the burden of my sins 
so long as you. I only wanted to be good because you 


92 


NELL AND NAN. 


did ; but since Mr. Newton talked with us I want to 
be good for Christ’s sake.” 

“Well, if we are in earnest, God will forgive our 
sins just for the asking. Shall I pray for you, Nan ? ” 

“ If you will.” 

Nell clasped her sister’s hand very tightly in hers, 
and in her simple prayer said : 

“Dear, precious Jesus, I do thank thee that thou 
hast spoken peace to my soul. And now, please, dear 
Jesus, hear Nan. May her heart feel as mine does, 
so light because the load is all gone. And, dear 
Jesus, may we get in the right path now, and wilt 
thou teach us so that we may make no more mistakes 
when we are working for thee; and O Lord Jesus, we 
do thank thee for thy love ; we do thank thee for thy 
forgiveness. Amen.” 

“Oh, Nell, I didn’t think you could pray like 
that,” whispered Nan. “ Who taught you ? ” 

“ Jesus, I think, for I never could before,” smiled 
Nellie. “And now I will leave you. God will hear 
you, and teach you, too, I know, if you will keep 
on ; for he never promises but that he fulfills, Nan, 
and you know he has promised to save all who come 
to him.” And she kissed her sister on the cheek, and 
then left her. 


CHAPTER XI. 


ROBBING THE MISSIONARY BOXES. 

T HE next day was a trying one to the two girls ; for 
with their new zeal they wanted to do so much. 
But everything seemed to go wrong. In the forenoon 
they remained at home while their mother went to 
church, and at Sunday-school they were very much 
annoyed because their particular children, as they 
called them, came in soiled garments and with dirty 
faces and hands. 

“ Now, aren’t they pretty-looking objects,” whis- 
pered Nan. 

“ Never mind,” responded Nell. “It is much bet- 
ter than if they did not come at all.” 

But some of the others did not think so, and 
expressed their feelings freely after Sunday-school was 
out, right in the presence of the two girls. 

Said Bertha Van Scotten, the wealthiest girl who 
came to Sunday-school, “ If I were those Clark girls, 
if I could get nothing but trash into Sunday-school, 
I wouldn’t get anybody.” 


93 


94 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ I guess they have souls as well as we,” responded 
Nan, indignantly. 

“ Hush ! ” said Nellie. “ They were real trying to- 
day. I am sorry.” 

“ Oh, I expect you mean well enough,” said Bertha. 
“ But I should let older ones fill up the Sunday- 
schools.” 

But there was a severer trial than ever in store for 
the two girls. The next Sunday none of the three 
children made their appearance at Sunday-school, and 
it was found on opening the missionary boxes that 
there was not a penny in them. 

Suspicion at once fastened on the absent children ; 
but how to get proof was the trouble. 

“ If it hadn’t been for the Clark girls they would 
never have been here,” said some of the teachers, 
as well as scholars. 

“ But that is a wrong w r ay to talk,” said Mr. 
Newton. “ It is our duty to receive everybody into 
Sunday-schools and churches. The girls should 
not be considered responsible for the loss. Every 
one meets discouragements when he first sets out in 
the good way. The longer we continue in the 
right path the brighter it becomes, and the faster we 
can go.” • 


NELL AND NAN. 


95 


“ Those words were a great deal of comfort,” said 
Nellie to Nan, on their way home. 

“ But to think,” said Nan, “ our missionary work 
resulting in losing the missionary money.” 

“ I am going to try to get that money back,” said 
Nellie. 

“How?” 

“ I am going out there this afternoon, if mamma is 
willing, and I’ll get it out of them somehow, if they 
stole it.” 

“Better leave such folks alone,” said Nan. 

“ But the Bible says ‘ we must continue in well- 
doing’ if we would prosper; and I do not feel like 
giving those poor children up. I know it would not 
be the Lord’s way,” said Nellie. “ You will go out 
there with me, Nan ? As bad as I. want to get that 
money back, I should be afraid to go alone.” 

“ Now,” said Nellie, after they had obtained their 
mother’s permission, “ we have got to use a little tact. 
Mamma says I can take a small basket full of fruit 
and cake. Are you ready ? ” 

“ They don’t deserve anything. I wouldn’t take 
them a thing,” said Nan. 

“‘If thine enemy hunger, feed him,” said Nellie. 
“ You know who said that? ” 


96 


NELL AND NAN. 


“Nell, I believe you are going to be a great deal 
better Christian than I.” 

“ I can be nothing in myself, only through Christ. 
Oh, Nan, I do love him so, because he died for me.” 

“ I love him, too ; but I am afraid not in the same 
way as you do. Mamma was only saying yesterday 
that she never saw such a change in anybody in her 
life. She said 1 she only hoped it would last/ ” 

Nellie blushed, but quietly remarked : 

“It will last just as long as I keep hold of Jesus. 
You will go, Nan ? ” 

“ Of course. I don’t intend to back out, and let 
you go and see those terrible people alone ; but I am 
afraid it will not do much good.” 

“ Nan, I have prayed, and I think Jesus will help 
us.” 

Nan had nothing more to say, and they took their 
walk almost in entire silence. 

As they neared the place, they found all three of 
the children at play before the door. The big boy 
got up and walked away, but the others remained. 

“ Why weren’t you at Sunday-school ? ” asked 
Nellie. 

“’Cause we ain’t going no more,” answered the girl, 
scooping the soft mud up around her bare feet. 



Nell and Nan 


Page 96 


























































































































NELL AND NAN. 


97 


“ Why ?” asked Nellie. 

“ Because mother says we needn’t.” 

“ But I thought you liked to come to hear about 
Jesus,” said Nan. 

The little girl shook her head. 

“ Where’s Jim?” asked Nellie. 

“ He’s gone around the house.” 

“ Peggy, won’t you go and tell him to come here? 
We have something for him.” 

Peggy ran away on her errand, and Nellie, taking 
out a cake from her basket, said : 

“ See here, Willie, what I am going to give you, if 
you will tell me something.” 

“ What?” he asked, stretching out his hand. 

“Has Jim had any money to spend lately?” 

“Him’s got a hull pocket full of pennies; but him 
isn’t going to spend it until to-morrer.” 

“ Do you know where he got it?” 

“ Him got it somewhere yisterday. He told mother 
he arned it.” 

“ Wasn’t you with him when he got it?” 

“No’m. Peggy was.” 

“Well, here’s a pear or two; and, Willie, I en- 
treat you not to give up going to Sunday-school — 
will you?” 


G 


98 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Na’ra, not if the rest don’t. I likes to go, but 
Jim and Peg don’t want to go.” 

“ Can’t yoil come alone ? ” 

“ I ’spects I could ; but I wants them to come, too.” 

Here the conversation was ended by Peggy’s reap- 
pearance, but without Jim. 

“ Couldn’t you find him?” inquired Nellie. 

“Yes’m, but he wouldn’t come. He said if you 
had anything for him you could send it to him by 
me. Please give me a cake and a pear. You’ve give 
some to Will.” 

“ As soon as you tell me all the truth about Jim 
robbing the missionary box at Sunday-school, you 
shall have all you want; for that is what I brought 
them for.” 

“ Who told you ? ” asked the child, at once put off 
her guard. 

“Some one; and I want to learn how Jim got in 
the church.” 

“ Will you put Jim in jail ?” 

“No, not this time, if you will tell us all about it.” 

“It was yesterday, when they were sweeping the 
church. The back window was up; so Jim jist 
crawled in and found the boxes.” 

“ But how did he get the pennies out of them ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


99 


“ He took off the tops with a screw-driver, and then 
screwed them on again.” 

“ I should have thought he would have been 
seen.” 

“ Jim wasn’t afraid, because, you know, they keep 
the boxes in the little room back of the church. Jim 
just fastened the door, and had all the room to him- 
self. If anybody had come and shook the door, he 
was going to jump out of the winder and run.” 

“ And where were you all that time ? ” 

“ I was just outside, so if I could hear anybody I 
could tell Jim.” 

“ Thank you for telling me all about it, Peggy ; but 
I am so disappointed in you and James that I could 
cry. If you are going to keep on in this way, I don’t 
know whatever will become of you.” 

“ God will surely punish them,” said Nan. 

“ And now, Peggy,” said Nellie, “ if you will show 
us the way, we will go and find James ourselves.” 

Peggy led the way, and the boy was found leaning 
up against a tree, whittling a stick, a sullen expression 
on his countenance. 

“ See here, James,” said Nellie, with tears in her 
eyes. “ I have brought you some fruit and cake ; 
but, oh! I am so sorry you took our missionary 


100 


NELL AND NAN. 


money ; for that money was for poorer little children 
than you.” 

“ How poor ? ” asked Peggy. 

“ Why, so poor that they have no churches or 
Sunday-schools to go to; no Bibles or books to read. 
They do not know that it is wicked to lie and steal, 
and swear, as you learn at Sunday-school.” 

“ Then what do you want to give the money to 
them for, if they’re so bad ? ” asked Peggy. 

“ Because, if they have Bibles and Sunday-schools, 
they will learn to do better.” 

“ Oh ! ” said Peggy. 

“ And now, James, we want all those pennies back.” 

“ I ain’t got ’em,” said the boy, sullenly. 

“ But we happen to know you have,” said Nan. 
“ You have got them there in your pockets.” 

“ Who told you?” he asked, looking threateningly 
at his brother and sister. 

“ Don’t you suppose we can see your pockets stick 
out?” said Nan. 

“If you’ll give them to us,” said Nellie, “Nan 
and I will give you something for them.” 

“What?” 

“ Let me see. You shall have a red scarf, a 
picture-book — and — what else have we, Nau ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


101 


“ If you’ll give me one of ’em gold rings on your 
fingers, I will do it,” said Jim. 

“Come away, Nell, and leave them alone. AVe’ll 
get the constable after him, and then he’ll have to 
give them up,” said Nan. 

“ I cannot give you one of my rings,” said Nellie, 
“ because they are worth three times as much as all 
the money you took.” 

“ Let us go in and see his mother. She will make 
him give it back,” said Nan. 

“ Mother ain’t at home,” said Peggy. “ She put 
on my best hat, and has gone to see somebody. She 
won’t be home till dark.” 

“ See here,” said Nellie, “ if you will give us all 
that money back, I’ll give you ten cents and a little 
ship all rigged out with masts, anchor and life-boat, 
all complete.” 

“ Oh, Nell, you won’t give that away ? ” 

“ Why not?” 

“ Because one of the sailors that goes on papa’s 
boat give you that.” 

“ But as we are girls, we never sail it. I would 
rather some boy had it ; and old Dick wouldn’t care, 
I know.” 

“Where is the ship?” asked Jim. 


102 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ At our house. You may come for it early to- 
morrow morning.” 

“ I will pay you the money for it when I get it,” 
said the boy. 

“ How much is there?” asked Nellie, almost dis- 
couraged. 

“ Seventy-eight cents.” 

“ There is not as much money, then, as I expected. 
You can keep it, and I will make the loss good to 
the Sunday-school ; but you must never come to our 
house again. Not another cake, or pear, or anything 
do you ever get from our house again until you 
become a better boy.” 

The boy frowned ; and then, as if bv sudden 
impulse, he flung the pennies on the ground, exclaim- 
ing: “ There; take your old pennies; nobody wants 
them!” 

Nell and Nan began picking them up. 

“Will you give me that ship?” asked the boy. 

“Yes; you may have it to-morrow morning; but 
I want you to keep on coming to Sunday-school, so 
that you will learn how perfectly dreadful it is to 
take anything that doesn’t belong to you.” 

“ I’d be ashamed to go there again,” said Jim. 

“ Our best clothes is all spiled now,” said Peggy. 


NELL AND NAN. 


103 


u Well, I’ll tell vou what vou can do. Mr. Newton 
has meetings every Saturday afternoon in his study 
for the lambs in his fold. Will you come to that? 
You can come with the clothes you have on, if you 
will only wash yourselves and comb your hair. 
Will you?” 

“ I’ll come if the rest will,” said Willie. 

“ Then we will bid you good-bve for this afternoon. 
And we are so glad you gave the money up, Jim. 
We hope you will never be tempted to do such a 
thing again.” 


CHAPTER XII. 

IN THE PASTOR’S STUDY. 


HE next Saturday afternoon was stormy, and 



i- Nell and Nan found themselves alone in their 
pastor’s study. 

“ So you have not yet succeeded in getting any one 
else interested in our meetings?” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, we are so sorry ; but we have 
tried so hard, and no one will come,” said Nell. 

“ We did think we would have those children who 
stole the missionary money, but they are not here,” 
said Nan. 

“You succeeded in getting it all back, did you?” 

“ Yes, sir, we did. But, Mr. Newton, we ought 
not to let them drop, and never speak or look at 
them again, ought we?” 

“Oh, no; that is entirely against the teachings of 
the Bible, though it is much the wav of the world, I 
am sorry to sav. There is hope for them while they 
come to Sunday-school. You must not become dis- 
couraged in well doing.” 

“ But, Mr. Newton, we have had so much to dis- 


104 


NELL AND NAN. 


105 


courage us. We tried so hard before we got in the 
right path, but everything went wrong with us.” 

“ Perhaps that was because you were not actuated 
by the right motives.” 

“Yes, sir, that was it; for I never thought of 
pleasing Jesus at all. I only thought everybody would 
praise me. I was doing everything for my own 
glory. I do not know how it was with Nan.” 

“I fear that I was caring more about pleasing Nell 
Clark,” said Nan, smiling. “ You see, Mr. Newton, 
I have been imitating her ever since I was born.” 

“ That is a mistake that others have made. They 
take some earthly friend for an example instead of 
Jesus. But how are you making out now ? ” 

“It does seem that we are accomplishing a little 
more; but oh, Mr. Newton, we are so ignorant. We 
do not know just how to work for Jesus yet,” said 
Nellie. 

“ Do you ask him to show you and help you ? ” 

“ Yes, sir, we do ; and I told Nan that perhaps you 
would tell us something that would be an answer to 
our prayer.” 

“God help me to feed his lambs ! Well, my dear 
children, loving and serving Jesus is just taking up 
our duties, though they be ever so little, and doing 


106 


NELL AND NAN. 


them cheerfully. You may serve God just as well 
minding your little brother, washing dishes and sweep- • 
ing a room as in any other way. A great many make 
a mistake in thinking that home duties may be 
neglected for outside work.” 

“ Why, Mr. Newton, isn’t it right for us to try to 
get people to come to church and Sunday-school ? ” 
asked Nellie. 

“ Of course, my dears, but what I mean is not to 
neglect what God puts in your hands even for that. 
Do you think it would be right to leave a poor, tired 
mother at home toiling with the work and the baby, 
while her daughters were out missionarving, if I may 
use such a word ? ” 

“Who told you?” asked Nell, blushing. 

“ It is only the way too many young disciples have 
of doing. These ugly little things that we hate so 
much are especially necessary for young people in dis- 
ciplining them for something more bv-and-by. We 
want to serve God just where he has placed us.” 

“ But, Mr. Newton, a person may so give all of her 
time to household cares as to get no time for Christ’s 
work,” said Nellie. 

“God doesn’t require any such close devotion to 
business as that, for what shall it profit a man if he 


NELL AND NAN. 


107 


gains the whole world and loses his own soul ? There 
are very few people who do not have time for home- 
work and some outside, too. What I mean is, that no 
one ought to leave dishes unwashed, or the beds un- 
made, to hunt up something outside; for it pleases 
God just as well to have us faithful in little things as 
in large things, especially if we do the little things 
seeking to please him.” 

“Oh, Mr. Newton, I think I understand now better 
than I ever did before; and, Nan, that makes me 
think it will be right for us to return home early this 
afternoon so that we can get supper for mamma, for 
she has company.” 

“ Do you mean to get supper all ourselves ? ” asked 
Nan, opening her eyes wide. 

“ Why, yes, we are large enough. Here am I past 
fifteeu and you past thirteen. Then, you see, mamma 
could sit in the parlor and entertain her visitors, for I 
know she hates to leave them.” 

“ But she is going to have fried oysters for supper, 
and we neither one of us know how,” said Nan. 

“ That’s a fact ; I always want to do things in such 
a hurry. But, I see, Mr. Newton, we can serve God 
by pleasing our mothers, and it would please her ever 
so much if we would become interested in domestic 


103 


NELL AND NAN. 


affairs. We might take lessons of mother an hour 
every day before school, and soon become able to help 
her more than we now do.” 

Mr. Newton was regarding first one and then 
the other, with a pleasant smile on his face. At last 
he said : “ There are such things as back-door mission- 
aries, too, who do more good than tongue can tell.” 

“ What are they ?” asked Nan. 

“ Why, persons who are ready for Christ’s sake to 
‘ bear ye one another’s burdens.’ For instance, my 
wife had a throbbing headache all day yesterday, but 
it was growing late in the week, and she felt her iron- 
ing must be done. So she stood at the table very pale 
and in pain, wondering how she would ever get 
through, when in came a sister right into our back 
door, and she took the iron from my wife’s hand, and 
did the ironing herself.” 

“ Oh, that was too kind ! ” said Nellie, admir- 
ingly. 

“ Isn’t Mrs. Newton a sort of back-door missionary 
herself?” asked Nan. 

“ Oh, yes, I am sure she is when she slips in and 
makes poor old Martin’s bed,” said Nellie. 

“ Poor wife ! She does entirely too much for her 
strength. She is growing old, and such service as she 


NELL AND NAN. 


109 


does for poor old Martin ought to be performed by 
younger hands.” 

Nannie looked at Nellie and Nellie looked at Nan- 
nie, and then Nellie said : “ I think Nan is thinking 
just as I do. She thinks we might make old Martin’s 
bed and keep his room in order. We have more time 
for it than Mrs. Newton.” 

Nan nodded her head. 

“ If we take up such kind of work as that, I think 
we shall soon have our hands full,” said Nellie. 

“ But, remember that God never requires of us more 
than we can do, only there are so many ways of doing 
good, if we are so inclined. How about those Harmer 
children, whom you were telling me so much about? 
They ought to be in Sunday-school ; but it appears 
their mother doesn’t get time, or doesn’t know how to 
manage to get their clothing made. Now, it might 
occur to some one to make Mrs. Harmer a surprise 
party with needles and thimbles, and get to work and 
get some of that sewing done up.” 

“Oh, Mr. Newton, we couldn’t do much in one 
afternoon.” 

“That would depend much on the size of your 
party. Twenty women could accomplish a great deal 
in four or five hours, especially if there were a machine 


110 


NELL AND NAN. 


or two; and if articles remained unfinished, parties 
could beg the privilege of taking home the work and 
finishing it.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, that would be ever so nice. We 
never thought of such a thing, did we, Nan ? ” 

“ It seems to me the thought might be worth an 
effort, since it might bring six children into Sunday- 
school.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, thank you. We will surely try 
it, if mamma approves; and I feel certain she will go 
and do all she can. She sews beautifully, and is ac- 
quainted with all the ladies who are the best seam- 
stresses. I wonder how we could manage the lady we 
made angry about a bonnet ? ” 

“ Invite her to the party, of course ; and be sure to 
defer to her judgment as often as you can without 
exciting her suspicion.” 

“Just the thing,” laughed Nellie; and she softly 
clapped her hands. 

“ We can do lots with you to plan,” said Nan. 

“And with God to bless,” said Mr. Newton. “Let 
us pray.” 

Mr. Newton always made beautiful prayers; and 
when the children arose from their knees, they felt as 
if Jesus indeed were with them. 


NELL AND NAN. 


Ill 


Mr. Newton took a hand of each in parting, and 
said : 

“ When are my little girls going to be baptized ? ” 

“ Oh, Mr. Newton, I’m afraid,” whispered Nellie. 

“ Afraid of anything, when Jesus is with you ? 
You know the Bible says ‘ Repent, believe, and be 
baptized/ ” 

“ But, Mr. Newton, we have often heard you say 
that being baptized doesn’t save any one,” said 
Nellie. 

“No, my dears, it is not a saving ordinance; but 
Jesus himself set us the example, and wants us to 
show to the world that we have come out from it and 
are new creatures. Being buried with Jesus in bap- 
tism shows that we have part with him, and that we, 
even as our Saviour, are buried and rise again. Be- 
sides, baptism is one of the doors into the church. 
You cannot be received into the church until you are 
baptized.” 

“ We don’t think we are good enough to join church 
yet,” said Nellie. 

“ You cannot too soon be received into the arms of 
the church, after you are old enough to repent and 
believe. The church will shield you from many a 
snare.” 


112 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ We will think about it, dear pastor,” said Nellie, 
softly. 

“ And pray about it, too,” said Mr. Newton, ac- 
companying them to the door. 

“ We will not forget that,” said Nan. 

“ God bless you, and make you shining lights for 
his kingdom.” 

“ Isn’t Mr. Newton nice?” asked Nellie. “ I 
can not conceive how I once thought him so ‘far 
off/” 

“ There are so many people who are nice after we 
find them out,” said Nan, “ that it isn’t safe to think 
unkindly of any one until, at least, we become inti- 
mately acquainted with them.” 

“It isn’t charity to think evil of any one,” re- 
sponded Nellie. “ Now, Nan, I do believe we are 
in the right path at last. Isn’t it glorious to feel that 
Jesus loves us so that he sympathizes with us in all 
our efforts ? ” 

“ How about being baptized ? ” 

“ 1 can now understand why the beginning of the 
way is so dark, Nan. It will be a cross for me to 
stand up and tell aloud my Christian experience, and 
then to have on one of those dismal-looking gowns, 
just as if we were going to be laid away in the grave, 


NELL AND NAN. 


113 


instead of being laid for a moment in water. Won’t 
it for you ? ” 

“ If we are not willing to suffer a little for Christ 
in the beginning, perhaps we should not hold out 
long. I think it is necessary and best, don’t you ? ” 
“ Yes, of course — and Jesus will help us. He will 
never leave nor forsake us if we will only trust iu 
him.” 

“ There is one thing I believe I am already finding 
out: that there is no happiness in this world just like 
that which comes from loving Jesus.” 

u Dear Nan, that is my experience exactly.” 


H 


CHAPTER XIII. 


HELPING MOTHER. 

^ TTTHY, girls, you are home early,” said Mrs. 

» » Clark, looking up from her crocheting, as 
with smiling faces they peeped in the parlor. 

“ Mamma, can’t Nell and I get supper to-night?” 
cried Nan. 

“All but frying the oysters,” said Nell. 

“ You are very thoughtful, my dears ; but I think 
Nan had better remain here and look after Charlie. 
Nell can help me, if she chooses.” 

A slight cloud passed over Nan’s face — it is so nice 
for even the Christian to have his own way. Then 
Nell said : 

“Well, mamma, let Nan and me go out and do all 
we can toward supper, shall we? We can make the 
fire and get the tea-kettle boiling and the table set 
before it is time for you; then you can have more 
time with your friends.” 

Mrs. Clark assented. 

As the girls passed out, they heard one of the visitors 
say : 

114 


KELL AND KAK. 


115 


“ What sweet girls ! ” 

Nell blushed rose-red aud Nan smiled. 

“ Aren’t those ladies nice?” said Nan. 

“ I suppose so. But they said that on purpose for 
us to hear.” 

“Well, what if they did? Perhaps they really 
thought it.” 

“ Perhaps so. But I don’t think too much praise 
is good for me. I am such a silly little thing, that it 
puffs me away up, and makes me forget that it is 
Jesus we want to please, instead of seeking our own 
pleasure. And another thing, Nan, wlieu we pray, 
mornings, I think we ought to say, ‘ Not our way, dear 
Lord, but thy way/ don’t you ? ” 

Nan looked very grave. 

“ I know it is so nice to have our own way, but we 
don’t know what is best for us, as the Lord does. 
You know Mr. Newton was telling us that last Sat- 
urday afternoon.” 

u Oh, Nell, will I ever in the world become a 
Christian ? There is so much to do.” 

“ We can’t be perfect, Nan, but you know Mr. 
Newton said a Christian’s life was made up of con- 
tinually trying. We will try, and when we fail we will 
ask God’s forgiveness and his help for better things.” 


116 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Do you think you will be baptized, Nell ? ” 

“If Jesus wishes it I shall try. I want to talk 
about it with father and mother first. You will, 
won’t you ? ” 

“ I don’t think I would be as afraid as you. I am 
not so nervous. And then, I think it is a beautiful 
ceremony. I always like to see them put down into 
the water. They look so sweet and pure, and the 
singing and all so appeals to my heart.” 

“And do you know, I am so timid that I always 
turn my head before the candidate is put under water. 
It will be harder for me than for you, but I am 
willing to try.” 

“ When are you going to have that surprise party?” 

“Don’t you think next Thursday afternoon would 
be a nice time? ” 

“ Yes. Whom are you going to invite?” 

“ I don’t know yet. Let us go in and ask mamma 
about it now. Perhaps Mrs. Ash and Mrs. Barnes 
will go.” 

“ Well, now,” said Mrs. Clark, when she heard the 
question, “ I don’t know that I like to encourage 
shiftlessness, but I suppose the poor children cannot 
help that. What do you think, Mrs. Ash ? ” 

“ That it will be a grand thing to get those chil- 


NELL AND NAN. 


117 


dren into Sunday-school. I will go for one. How 
good Mrs. Harmer would feel to have all her sewing 
done up for once! ” 

“ It might be the means of putting new life into the 
woman so that she would never get behind again,” 
said Mrs. Barnes. 

“ Yes,” said Mrs. Clark, “ but perhaps she will not 
like it for us to go there all of a sudden. How are 
you going to work that, girls?” 

“ Couldn’t I ask her if she were willing to have a 
surprise party there next Thursday afternoon ? And 
then she would be prepared,” said Nellie. 

“She will take it as a great compliment, I have an 
idea. She is just that sort of a woman,” said Mrs. 
Clark. 

“Easily puffed up?” asked Mrs. Ash. 

Mrs. Clark nodded. 

“ Well, we won’t care for that. Some folks need 
puffing up,” laughed Mrs. Barnes. “ If I go I shall 
tell her what beautiful children she has, what a splen- 
did housekeeper she is, et cetera .” 

“ But she isn’t,” said Nellie, opening her eyes very 
wide. 

“ Oh, that doesn’t matter in society.” smiled Mrs. 
Barnes. 


118 


NELL AND NAN. 


* 

“Are yon a Christian, Mrs. Barnes?” asked Nellie, 
timidly. 

' “ Why, Nell ! ” said her mother, reprovingly. 

“ I beg pardou, but — but — I thought — ” stam- 
mered Nell. 

“ Never mind what you thought, my dear child. I 
see that you like honesty. Now, you wouldn’t like me 
to tell Mrs. Harmer that she has the homeliest chil- 
dren in town, would you ; nor that she is always in a 
muss?” 

“ No, ma’am, for that would offend her. Is it not 
better to say nothing when we can say no good?” 

“ Nellie, you are forgetting yourself. Remember 
that Mrs. Barnes is many years older than you.” 

“ Do leave the child alone, Mrs. Clark. It is really 
refreshing to converse with an original character now 
and then. I have always been told that your girls 
have old heads on young shoulders.” 

“ Oh, no,” said Nellie. “ What we know we have 
learned mostly of Mr. Newton. We are as ignorant 
as babies in some respects. Why, we didn’t even 
know how to pray until Mr. Newton taught us.” 

“ What a dear, good man he is ! ” said Mrs. Ash. 

“ He is certainly improving”’ said Mrs. Barnes. 
“He preaches much plainer sermons than he used 


NELL AND NAN. 


119 


to. My Sallie says she can understand all he says 
now.” 

“ I find that the children are becoming more inter- 
ested,” said Mrs. Clark. 

“We are all ready for you now, mamma,” said 
Nan. 

“In the kitchen, you mean. Well, I will be there 
directly ; and, girls, before Mrs. Ash and Mrs. Barnes 
go, you had better see Mrs. Harmer, so that she may 
know.” 

Mrs. Harmer was indeed pleased to think that any 
one, especially the Clarks, should think enough of 
her to make her a surprise party. 

“But tell them,” she said, “they needn’t mind 
bringing any presents.” 

“A sure sign that she would not consider the party 
perfect without presents,” laughed Mrs. Clark, as she 
was serving her visitors with tea in dainty china 
cups. 

“ We will take something of our own make, then,” 
said Mrs. Ash. “ Poor woman ! with so many chil- 
dren, is it a wonder that she never gets time to 
make pretty things? Let me see. I don’t suppose 
she has a white counterpane in the house ; and I have 
such a pretty one that I knit from odds and ends of 


120 


NELL AND NAN. 


strings coming around paper parcels. I believe I 
will give her that. I have so much time, and am so 
fond of knitting, that I can soon knit another.” 

“Why, do tell!” said Mrs. Clark. “I should 
think your counterpane would be full of knots.’’ 

“ No, it isn’t ; for you see as fast as I get the 
string I knit it into tiny squares of different patterns, 
and then knit them together. A sort of crazy-quilt 
counterpane.” 

“ I should never have thought of that,” said Mrs. 
Barnes. 

“ Nor I, if I hadn’t so much leisure time.” 

“ I don’t suppose Mrs. Harmer has a work basket 
in the house,” said Mrs. Barnes. 

“No, she hasn’t,” spoke up Nan. “She keeps her 
sewing all piled up pell-mell in her cupboard. She 
showed it to us once.” 

“ Then I will give her a work basket. An old 
pasteboard box cut into the right shape, covered with 
red delaine, will make a beauty,” said Mrs. Barnes. 

“ Oh, mamma, cau I make her a half-dozen holders 
with loops to them ? She always takes her dripping 
pans off the stove with her apron,” said Nan. 

“ And I will make her a nice chair cushion,” said 
Nellie. 


NELL AND NAN. 


121 


“I shan’t tell what I will do. Wait until the time 
comes, and maybe you will see,” smiled Mrs. Clark. 

“ It will be something nice if mamma makes it,” 
said Nan. 

And so it proved when the time come : it was a 
handsome Queen Anne table, which Mrs. Clark made 
all herself from two or three old boxes. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE SEWING PARTY. 


HERE were twenty women present at the party; 



J- and that Mrs. Harmer was pleased, everybody 
knew from the excited way in which she flitted in 
and out between the two rooms, sometimes laughing 
and then almost crying. 

“Of course, you’ve got to stay to supper every 
last one of you, or I shall take it as the deepest 
kind of an insult — after all these pretty presents, 
too,” she went on, drawing out the extension table 
and fitting in the leaves. “Pm so glad you let me 
know } T ou were coming, or you’d found us in an 
awful ‘ mux,’ I reckon. Sallie and me was bakin’ 
all day yesterday.” 

“ Indeed, we did not want you to go to any trouble 
for us,” said Mrs. Ash. “We know just how full 
your hands are, and came to help you instead of mak- 
ing work.” 

“Well, land of living, ain’t vou helping me? Just 
to think of having twenty needles all going to once 
for me, and a sewing-machine to boot! I don’t know 


122 


NELL AND NAN. 


123 . 


how to be thankful enough. You shall have a good 
supper, anyhow. Ed killed four young chickens, and 
I baked pound cake and jelly cake, and made lemon 
butter and fresh pear sass, and I don’t know what an’ 
all.” 

“ I have heard that you are the best cook in town,” 
said Mrs. Barnes. 

“Have you now? Well, I will confess that I do 
like to cook, and Ed is so proper fond of good vic- 
tuals. I have put up over a hundred cans of fruit 
this year, to say nothing of the jellies and preserves 
I’ve made.” 

“Is it possible?” said Mrs. Ash. “ 1 don’t won- 
der you find so little time to sew. You ought to 
have a girl.” 

“ Ed won’t consent to that. He says our own girls 
are plenty big enough to help. But they don’t like 
to work as well as Mrs. Clark’s girls. I only wish 
they did.” 

“ I think my girls prefer almost anything else,” 
said Mrs. Clark, dryly.. 

“ They work, don’t they?” 

“Yes, they are beginning to give me more help; 
but I have known them to shirk their duties more 
than once. I have learned in my experience that 


124 


NELL AND NAN. 


girls, or boys, either, at a certain age, will not perform 
much labor that is required of them.” 

•'‘Well, perhaps so,” replied Mrs. Harmer; “but 
I am thinking I shall have to clean and fix lip a 
little extra after all these presents. Ed shall give 
me enough money for a new parlor paper. I dare 
say he will, if Sallie and me will put it on ourselves. 
Those mottoes are real handsome, though ; and who 
would have thought anybody would' have painted me 
a real panel ? I never expected to own such a thing 
in all my life. I can fix up beautifully now, if I 
only get all my sewing done. I am afraid it will 
take a while, though, to get all the things finished off. 
But I reckon I can manage.” 

“We intend to take every article home we don’t 
finish,” said Mrs. Ash. 

“ Well, Ido declare, if that ain’t too kind. Why, 
the children, all but the two little ones, can start to 
school next week, I do believe; and they are all big 
enough to go to Sunday-school.” 

“We hope to see both you and Mr. Harmer out to 
church,” said Mrs. Ash. 

“Why, yes, I’d just as lief go as not, if I get my 
new green suit done. I have been so long with noth- 
ing fit to wear. I reckon I can live cleaner, too, with 


NELL AND NAN. 


125 


the children off to school ; they do track in so much 
dirt, and are forever making a litter.” 

“You are a member of church, are you not, 
Mrs. Harmer?” asked Mrs. Ash. 

“ Law, yes. I’ve been a member nigh on to four- 
teen years; but it is hard to keep one’s place in a 
church when you have so many little ones, and your 
husband is kind of unwilling and all that.” 

“Then your husband is not a member?” asked 
Mrs. Ash. 

“ Law, no. I only wish he was. Nobody knows 
but them as has gone through with it what it is to 
live with an unconverted man. Not that I’m com- 
plaining of Ed ; he is good enough other ways, but 
an unconverted man does manage to put a chill on 
his wife’s religion.” 

“ I know all about that,” spoke up a little woman 
in the corner, heaving a deep-drawn sigh. “It is 
dreadful; but Jesus will help us even then, if we con- 
tinue steadfast. You should aim to bring your hus- 
band into the church, Mrs. Harmer.” 

“ He never seemed to care anything about joining. 
He always savs that church members are as selfish as 
outsiders, and sometimes he almost makes me believe 
it, too. But I wonder what he will think after to- 


126 


NELL AND NAN. 


day?” And Mrs. Harmer took the corner of her 
apron to wipe away a tear. 

“I don’t think we ever realized before that yon 
had so much to bear/’ said Mrs. Clark. 

“ No, of course not ; for people as are kept at home 
pretty much with their own work have no chance to 
know how their neighbors get along. But law! there 
comes Mr. and Mrs. Newton. You didn’t know I’d 
sent for them, did you ? But I thought they might 
as well enjoy a feast, too. They’ve never been to my 
house to tea all the years they’ve been here. My will 
was strong enough, dear knows; but I never could 
find the time for the extra work. I wonder what 
Ed will say, anyway?” And Mrs. Harmer only 
stopped talking to shake hands with Mr. and Mrs. 
Newton. 

“ Bearing one another’s burdens, are you ? ” asked 
the preacher, smiling radiantly on all present. 

“ I should think so,” said Mrs. Harmer. “ Did 
you ever hear of anything so kind ? I shouldn’t 
wonder if this won’t do more towards converting Ed 
than all the sermons he has ever heard.” 

“ God grant it,” said the pastor, as he seated him- 
self beside Miss Tullius, who was dexterously sewing 
the sleeves into a little jacket. 


NELL AND NAN. 


127 


“ I haven’t seen you to church lately,” said Mr. 
Newton. 

Miss Tullins blushed, but answered quickly: 

u I am going to come. I expect to be there next 
Sunday.” 

“ Thank you,” said Mr. Newton. “ You don’t 
know what a comfort it is to a pastor to see all his 
flock present Sunday after Sunday. He misses even 
one, and feels like going out to seek the one he fears 
is lost. There is more joy in heaven over the one 
that is lost and found than over the ninety and nine 
just ones who are safe within the fold.” Mr. New- 
ton paused a moment, and some one struck up that 
well-known hymn, in a sweet, trembling voice : 

“I was a wandering sheep, 

I did not love the fold ; 

I did not love my Shepherd’s voice, 

I would not be controlled. 

1 was a wayward child, 

I did not love my home, 

I did not love my Father’s voice, 

I loved afar to roam. 

“ The Shepherd sought his sheep, 

The Father sought his child ; 

He followed me o’er vale and hill, 

O’er deserts waste and wild ; 


128 


NELJj AND NAN. 


He found me nigh to death, 

Famished and faint and lone ; 

He bound me with the bands of love ; 

He saved the wandering one. 

“ Jesus my Shepherd is ; 

’Twas he that loved my soul, 

’Twas he that washed me in his blood, 

’Twas he that made me whole ; 

’Twas he that sought the lost, 

That found the wandering sheep ; 

’Twas he that brought me to the fold, 

’Tis he that still doth keep.” 

“ That means me,” said Mrs. Harmer, with tears in 
her eyes. “ Oh, what a lost sheep I have been ! ” 

Supper was now announced, and Mr. Harmer was 
there to do the honors of the table, the neatest one of 
the family — and, as Mr. Newton found, the most 
intelligent. 

“ I never knew a party of that kind could be so 
pleasant,” said Mrs. Clark, as she walked home beside 
Mr. and Mrs. Newton. “ I didn’t hear a word of 
scandal from any one.” 

“No; that was because you went solely for the pur- 
pose of helping Mrs. Harmer. Some people attend 
a party, or sewing-bee, for the express purpose of hear- 
ing the news, it would seem. But here we are; and 


NELL AND NAN. 


129 


Nellie and Nannie are out ‘at the gate waiting for you, 
with the baby.” 

“ Oh, mamma,” said Nan, “did von bring home 
something we can do ? We do want to help so much.” 

“ Yes ; here are a half dozen handkerchiefs to hem. 
Take pains, and see how well you and Nell can do 
them.” 

“ Oh, good ! ” exclaimed Nell. 

“ Inasmuch as you do it unto one of the least of 
these you are doing it unto me, saitli the Lord,” said 
Mr. Newton, as he shook hands with both girls, and 
patted little Charlie on the cheeks. “ Is it not good 
to work for Jesus ? ” 

“ His yoke is easy and his burden is light,” said 
Mrs. Clark, softly, much to the surprise of the girls, 
who seldom heard much in that strain from their 
mother. 

Poor woman ! she was the wife of an unconverted 
man, too. But with more strength of character than 
Mrs. Harmer, she strove to please her husband and 
keep her place in the church ; and since her husband 
was absent the greater part of the. time, sometimes for 
months together, she met with fewer hindrances. 


I 


CHAPTER XY. 


BACK-DOOR MISSIONARIES. 

mHE next Sunday was a joyful day for Nellie and 
J- Nan Clark ; for Mr. and Mrs. Harmer, with tlieir 
children, filled one pew full, and Miss Tullius was 
there, too, in her handsome new bonnet. 

“ Weren’t there a good many out to-day ? ” was 
the question one after another put to the other as they 
left the church ; and Nellie and Nannie’s hearts 
glowed when they thought how much they had done 
toward bringing about such glorious results ; and 
then, when Sunday-school time came, it was a sweet 
pleasure to be followed into the room by all six of the 
Harmer children. Even the two-year-old baby went 
into the infants’ room ; and then the Harmer chil- 
dren behaved so nicely, not at all like the little 
waifs from over at the mill. Still, even those poor 
children were thought of, and Nellie began wonder- 
ing to Nan if they couldn’t do something more for 
them. 

“ I don’t know. I am clear discouraged about 
them,” said Nan. 

130 


NELL AND NAN. 


131 


“ I tell you what we might do,” said Nellie. “ We 
might give them our Sunday-school papers.” 

“ But I want them myself,” said Nan. 

But they need them the worst. Peggy seemed 
real pleased with the Reaper and the Sunlight .” 

“And so am I pleased with them, and have enough 
sense to appreciate them. If they don't care enough 
for them to come to Sunday-school, they cannot care 
for them very much.” 

“ Well, Nan, you can do what you please with your 
Sunlights , but I believe I will give my Reapers to 
Peggy — that is, after I have read them myself. I 
want them to be' a blessing to her.” 

“ I like what Mr. Newton said about being back- 
door missionaries the best. I think it must be grand 
slipping into people’s back-doors and doing things 
unceremoniously without everybody knowing it.” 

“ It is our turn to stay at home to-night and take 
care of little Charlie while mother goes to church. 
Now, if we want to do some back-door work, why 
couldn’t we go over to Mrs. Kidd’s and get her baby, 
and keep it at home while she goes to church? The 
poor woman never thinks of getting to meeting ; and 
I heard her say she would go willingly, if only it 
wasn’t for the baby.” 


132 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Nellie Clark, are you crazy? You know that is 
the crossest baby under the sun.” 

“No, I don’t know any such thing. But I would 
like Mrs. Kidd to go to church, cross baby or not. 
Will you take all the care of Charlie, if I go and get 
Raymond ? ” 

“ I reckon. But I think you’ll wish you had never 
undertaken it before Mrs. Kidd comes home.” 

“ I am going to try, anyway, if mamma is willing.” 

Mrs. Clark was willing, and bade Nellie to be sure 
and tell Mrs. Kidd to come over and go to church 
with he . 

Mrs. Kidd was grateful for the opportunity, and 
little Raymond bid fair to be a good boy before 
his mother left; but she had not been gone longer 
than five minutes before the baby began to fret, and 
Nellie used every artifice in her knowledge to quiet 
him. The fretting, however, soon became lusty wails; 
and poor Nellie realized that she indeed had her 
hands full, as she walked back and forth the long 
distance of the room — Nan scolding much of the 
time, because she hadn’t known better than to under- 
take such a thing. Little Charlie had gone to sleep, 
and Nan was free — part of the time engaged with a 
book, and part of the time in upbraiding her sister. 


NELL AND NAN. 


133 


“Oh, Nan, what time is it?,” asked Nellie, at 
last. 

“ Only eight o’clock. They won’t be home for an 
hour yet,” said Nan, as she turned to her book. 

“ Oh, Nan, won’t you rest me just a little bit?” she 
asked, at last. 

“ That wasn’t in the bargain,” said Nan, smiling 
grimly. 

“ But my arms feel as if they would break,” almost 
gasped Nell, as she tried to straighten herself up under 
her burden. At the same time two tears rose to her 
eyes. 

“ Here, give him to me,” said Nan, reaching out 
her arms ; and then to the baby : “ Oh, you naughty 
little scamp, you ; you needn’t think I’m going to 
walk about with you. Now, why can’t you shut up 
your screeching and go to sleep like little Charlie?” 

But the baby evidently did not relish the scolding, 
for he threw back his head and screamed louder than 
ever. 

“ Oh, dear, let me have him again!” said Nellie. 
“I’m afraid he will cry himself sick, and Mrs. Kidd 
will think that we didn’t half try to keep him still.” 

“Have patience^ I have an idea. I’m going to 
make him a sugar-bag.” And Nan went out into the 


134 


NELL AND NAN. 


kitchen, but soon returned with some sugar tied up in 
a very white, soft rag. 

“ Here, now, Nell, you sit down in this rocker with 
him, and I’ll stick the sugar-bag in his mouth. Per- 
haps between us both we can manage him.” 

Well, the baby did like the sugar-bag, and was soon 
greedily sucking it, while Nellie rocked. In a few 
minutes the sweet bag dropped from its mouth, and 
the little one was sound asleep. 

“ What time is it now?” asked Nellie. 

“They will be here in a very short time.” 

“ Well, don’t tell Mrs. Kidd what a time we had,” 
said Nellie, “ unless she asks.” 

“ Here they come now,” said Nan. 

“Was he cross?” asked Mrs. Kidd, as she bent 
tenderly over her babe. And then Nellie saw that her 
eyes were red as if she had been weeping. 

“ He is asleep now,” said Nellie. 

“It is strange that he went to sleep without his 
mamma. He isn’t used to it; but, oh, girls, how 
shall I ever thank you for keeping my baby to-night? 
It was a blessed meeting to me ; and somehow, to- 
night, I understand the real loving plan of salvation 
as I never thought I could understand it before. I 
have just been telling your mother about it. The 


NELL AND NAN. 


135 


Lord must have put it into your hearts to offer to 
keep my baby to-night. I trust that to-night will be 
the commencement of a new life to me. My heart is 
tender with the beautiful love I could never under- 
stand before.” 

Nellie forgot all her weariness and aches and pains 
then, and her face glowed ; and when she knelt down 
to her prayers that night, she was very, very happy, 
and yet, oh, so humble ! 

Nan felt it, too; and there was a feeling like this: 
“ Dear sister, thou art holier than I ! ” And that, 
though they were both running together, Nell was 
outstripping her. And she lay awake long in the night 
thinking how she might do something for her Master 
that might bring such rich results. 


CHAPTER XV I. 


RUNNING AHEAD. 

rnHE next morning, when Nell awoke, she was sur- 
-L prised to find that Nan was not beside her as 
usual. 

Fearing that she had overslept herself, and won- 
dering why she hadn’t wakened her, she jumped out 
of bed, and began to dress hastily. But just then the 
hall-clock struck six, and she knew she was on time. 
After giving the last touch to her hair, she knelt 
down and prayed for strength for the day’s duties. 

She went down to the kitchen, and found her 
mamma there alone, moulding out rolls for breakfast. 
“ Why, mamma, where is Nan?” she asked. 

“ Here she comes ; let her answer for herself,” 
smiled Mrs. Clark, as Nan was seen hastily coming 
up the garden walk, her cheeks rosy with exercise, 
and her eyes sparkling with happy thoughts within. 

“Oh, Nan, where have you been?” asked Nell, 
springing to the door and opening it for her sister. 

“ ‘ Let not your left hand know what your right 

hand doeth,’ ” she answered, teasingly. 

136 


NELL, AND NAN. 


137 


“ How did you find old Martin this morning?” 
inquired Mrs. Clark. 

“ Very poorly, but he was so glad to see me. He 
could not thank me enough.” 

u I hope you succeeded in making him comfortable.” 

“ Oh, yes, mamma. I made his fire, and made him 
some toast and boiled him an egg ; and after he had 
eaten his breakfast I washed the dishes, swept out his 
room, and made his bed.” 

“Was he up?” 

“ Yes, mamma. He was just creeping around so 
faint that he was glad to sink down in his big chair 
when I came in. He says he tries to get up early 
every day, he gets so tired lying in bed ; but he is 
always glad to get back again before noon. Mr. 
Newton came in before I got through, and said he 
was so glad I was there, as his wife was unable to 
come over this morning, and he had come over in her 
place. Imagine a man sweeping a floor and making 
a bed ! ” And Nan laughed heartily. 

“ You might have waked me, so that I could have 
gone too,” said Nellie. 

“ It isn’t fair for you to do all the back-door work. 
Besides, mamma wanted one of us home in case 
Charlie woke up.” 


138 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Yes, dear. I though^ if Nan was willing to get 
up an hour earlier every morning, she might as well 
take old Martin for her special work.” 

“Not half so hard as keeping Mrs. Kidd’s baby,” 
laughed Nan. 

Nevertheless, on the next Sunday morning, Nan 
startled Nell by saying: 

“ It is our turn to stay home this morning. How 
about Mrs. Kidd’s baby?” 

Nellie looked aghast, and commenced rubbing her 
arms as if all the tired aches were not yet gone. 

“ Suppose you take Charlie this morning, and let 
me mind Raymond. I know Mrs. Kidd will be 
delighted to get to go to church again.” 

Nell kissed her sister, saying : 

“You are a dear, good girl, Nan. Go for little 
Raymond by all means, and I will help you all I 
can.” 

“ It isn’t fair for you to bear all the burden every 
time.” 

“ It was you who conquered him with the sugar- 
bag, after all,” smiled Nell. 

Little Raymond seemed to like his new nurses 
much better by daylight than by lamplight, and upon 
the whole was a pretty merry little boy. He even 


NELL AND NAN. 


139 


condescended to sit upon the floor beside little Char- 
lie, while the girls were watching the people go to 
church. 

“ Oh, Nell, Miss Tullins has two of her neighbors 
with her! ” exclaimed Nan. 

“ It seems to me that most everybody is going to- 
day,” said Nell. 

u Mamma says the church is right on the verge of 
a revival,” said Nan. 

“ Mamma says that Mrs. Kidd is going to join 
church. Isn’t it nice?” said Nell. 

“ You will be baptized now, won’t you, Nell?” 

“ Yes, Nan. I have been praying, and the Lord has 
made me ever so much stronger.” 

“ If papa could only be home.” 

“ Mamma says he won’t be home for two or three 
months yet, and she is confident that he would not 
hold out in opposition, if he opposed us at all.” 

“He is just the dearest papa in the world. Oh, 
Nell, why can’t he be a Christian?” 

“ Perhaps he will, if we pray for him. God an- 
swers stranger prayers than that.” 

“ I do pray for him, Nell.” 

“And I too, Nan.” 

That day, at the dinner-table, Nan asked Mrs. 


140 


NELL AND NAN. 


Clark if it was wrong for Christians to be rivals in 
working for Jesus. 

“ No, I think not,” said Mrs. Clark ; “ for we can- 
not be too zealous in our Master’s work. However, 
we should not do anything for glory. All the glory 
belongs to Jesus.” 

“ That is what I try to think,” said Nan ; “ but I 
don’t want Nell to get ahead of me. I would like 
just as many stars in my crown as Nell has in 
hers.” 

There were tears in Nell’s eyes, but she was silent. 

‘‘And what are you thinking, Nell?” asked Mrs. 
Clark. 

“ Oh, I was thinking I should be perfectly satisfied 
if I could onlv obtain a crown, without the stars.” 

“ Then you are not working for stars? ” 

“ Oh, mamma, I never thought of such a thing. I 
only want to work to please Jesus. I never, never 
shall be worthy to wear a crown, I fear.” 

“ As for that, my dear child, we are none of us 
worthy. It only becomes us to sow the seed, and let 
the Lord reward us as he chooses.” 

“ But were we not rewarded when he gave his life 
for us ? What more can he do?” 

“All that he promises, my child. Eye hath not 


NELD AND NAN. 


141 


seen nor’ear heard all the joys he has prepared for his 
ransomed ones.” 

“ Sometimes, mamma, when I think of my imper- 
fect life, doubts creep in, and I fear I shall be left out 
of the beautiful life beyond.” 

“ If you depended on your own goodness to save 
you, of course you would, Nell ; but you know it is 
Jesus who does it all. 

‘ Just as I am, without one plea, 

But that thy blood was shed for me.’ 

“ Or— 

‘ Nothing in my hand I bring, 

Simply to thy cross I cling.’ ” 

“ How nice it is to have mamma talk with us about 
such things!” said Nan, an hour or two later. “Oh, 
Nell, I do think we ought to be the happiest girls in 
all this world.” 

“ Well, aren’t we?” smiled Nell. 

“ Then don’t you go to getting the blues by think- 
ing vou niav not be saved, after all ; for I consider 
that the greatest sin yet.” 

“ What?” 

“ Why, not believing Jesus, when he says so many 
times, and in so many ways, that we are saved if we 
only confess our sins and believe in him. I am sure, 


1-42 


NELL AND NAN. 


if I should tell you that you might take that pretty 
book Uncle Ed sent me last winter, and you didn't 
believe it, I should take it as a real insult. Now 
think how much surer God's word is than mine." 

“ I do not doubt his word. God knows I do not, 
Nan ; but it is so much for him to do for us, that I 
believe that I am overwhelmed. I hardly know 
whether to cry over his sufferings for such a vile 
worm as I, or to rejoice for my own sake. It some- 
times seems so selfish to forget all he suffered in my 
great joy over my own pardon." 

“ I know, Nell. But his sufferings are over now ; 
and he is glorified. But aren’t we getting a little be- 
yond our depths ? He died for us, and it would be 
ungrateful in us not to rejoice. Let us thank him 
that he had the strength to do so much for us." 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A FOOLISH QUARREL. 

T T always pains one to chronicle anything unworthy 
a Christian’s life; for it always seems to me that 
the grace of God ought to be sufficient, if given proper 
heed to, to restrain from evil; and, of course, it is only 
when the proper heed is not taken that the Christian 
falls. It makes me sad to relate it, but Nell and Nan 
had a terrible quarrel that day before dark. It was 
caused by Nell being determined to go over to the 
mill to see about those children, while Nan was as 
decidedly bent on going somewhere else on an errand 
she thought just as praiseworthy. 

“ I always have to give in to you, and I am not go- 
ing to do it a moment longer,” declared Nan, hotly. 

“ Then do as you please, and I will do the same,” 
cried Nell, with flaming cheeks. “ Your room is bet- 
ter than your company, anyway.” 

“Hoity-toity!” exclaimed Nan, with the deepest 
irony. “ A pretty Christian you are, aren’t you ? ” 

“ Look at your own faults, and you will have 

enough to do,” cried Nell. And then these naughty 

143 


144 


NELL AND NAN. 


girls, who had forgotten all about Jesus aud every- 
thing good, turned their backs on one another, and 
one went one way, and the other another; and when 
they met again they would not speak, though each one 
wanted to know so much what the other had done. 
But how miserable the girls were ! Nell was actually 
pale, and Nan restless. They had quarreled many a 
time before, but had never felt as they now did. 

They went to church, and sat together, but heard 
not one word the preacher said. Then they walked 
home without a word, and after hurriedly whispering 
their prayers, crept into bed and turned their backs to 
each other. 

Nan stirred around uneasily, and twitched the bed- 
clothes until the larger part of them hung over on her 
side of her bed. 

Nell lay very quiet, but was becoming so hysterical 
that hard suppressed sobs were almost choking her. 
At last one burst out, and she could not restrain her 
torrent of tears any longer. 

"Nell, what is the matter? Are you sick?” in- 
quired Nan, though she knew too well just what it 
was. 

"Nan,” Nell tried to say, but was so choked 
with sobs that she could not say another word for 


NELL AND NAN. 


145 


five minutes or more. “Nan,” again she began, 
“ the Bible says, Let not the sun go down on your 
wrath, and oh, Nan, it has gone down long ago. 
Will you forgive me, Nan, dear Nan?” 

“ Of course I will ; for you know well enough 
that I was just as much to blame as you. What 
is the use of taking things so to heart?” 

“ But, Nan, we are Christians, and I have brought 
disgrace on the cause.” 

“You? I guess it was I.” 

“But I am the oldest, and ought'to have given 
up to you, when you most always give up to me. 
Oh, Nan, I cannot sleep until I get up and ask 
my Saviour to forgive me too.” 

“Nor I,” said Nan, slipping out of bed and kneel- 
ing down on one side, while her sister knelt down on 
the other. 

“He has forgiven me,” said Nell, getting up at 
last. But she found her sister in bed. 

“ Dear, dear Nan,” she said, as she crept in beside 
her, and threw her arms around her. Then she 
found that Nan’s cheeks were wet with tears, too, 
and she lay very quiet until the storm was over. 

Then Nan asked what kind of a time her sister 
had going over to the mill. 


146 


KELL AND NAN. 


“ It was dreadful lonely without you, dear, every 
step of the way; but I went on until I came to the 
house, and what do you think, Nan?” 

“ I don’t know, I am sure.” 

“ They were all gone, every one of them, and the 
windows boarded up.” 

“ Well, I declare.” 

“Yes, and I met the miller out for a walk, and 
asked him where the family had gone. ‘ That’s more 
than I know/ he answered; ‘and it doesn’t matter 
much, I guess, where. They are not much account 
anywhere.’ ” 

“ Didn’t I tell vou so?” broke in Nan. “ What is 

t * 

the use of wasting one’s time over them, when it can 
be so much better employed ? ” 

“ But the Saviour died for the worst of sinners, you 
know. No one was too low for him to save, and he 
was poor himself, you know, Nan; and it was he 
who said : ‘Inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least 
of these, ye do it unto me.’ And oh, Nan, those 
folks over at the mill were the very least of any I 
ever knew; and to think, instead of doing them any 
good, we should quarrel over them, it hurts me terri- 
bly. How can I help doubting, sometimes, that I 
have ever been converted ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


147 


“Nell, I have heard Mr. Newton say that Chris- 
tians are just like other persons, only they don’t do 
wrong so often because the love of Christ constrains 
them; and when they do wrong, it hurts them 
terribly, and they can never rest until the wrong is 
righted. Now, Nell, you know, six months ago, that 
if we had quarreled, we wouldn’t have cared a snap 
about it, but prided ourselves in seeing who could re- 
main mad the longest. You know mamma has had 
real trouble with us trying to smooth over our quar- 
rels.” 

“Oh, Nan, you do comfort me so much. But 
don’t let us quarrel any more, sister; it is so ter- 
rible.” 

“Yes — looks more terrible to us now than it 
ever did before. We know we have displeased the 
Saviour, and that hurts the worst of all.” 

“ Nan, do you believe there is any such thing as 
sanctification ? ” 

“Why, I don’t know. What made you ask?” 

“Why, you know there are some people who pro- 
fess to be so good that they say they never have a 
desire to sin.” 

“ I do not see how that can be ; for you know the 
Bible says : ‘There’s not one righteous — no, not one.’ ” 


148 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Yes, I know ; but sanctified ones prefer to pray 
themselves into such a state that they don’t even want 
to sin. If there is sucli a thing, Nan, it would be a 
glorious thing to have.” 

“ Let us ask Mr. Newton about it next Saturday 
afternoon. He can tell us.” And letting the ques- 
tion rest there, they were soon asleep. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

ABOUT SANCTIFICATION. 


T HE next Saturday afternoon Mr. Newton’s study 
was pretty well filled, not only with the lambs 
of his flock, but with great, grown sheep, who were 
desirous of entering the fold. 

The time was so fully occupied that Nell and Nan 
waited until the others were gone before they said a 
word. 

“Can we stay just a few minutes longer ?” asked 
Nan. “We want to ask you something, and we 
didn’t care for the others to hear.” 

“Certainly, my dears; be seated, and let me see 
what I can do for you.” 

“Why, it is about sanctification, Mr. Newton,” said 
Nell. “Do you think there is really such a thing? 
and if there is, do you think it is for little girls too?” 

“I do not see why not for little girls as well as 
anybody. But, my dears, I do not profess sanctifica- 
tion, and so can tell you very little about it. I know 
there are some people who profess it, but God knows 
their hearts. I do not.” 


149 


150 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ But, Mr. Newton, does not the Bible say, ‘Come 
out from the world, and be ye holy’?” asked Nell. 

“Yes, but I think that means to come out and 
strive after holiness. Now, I am striving after it, but 
have not reached the point yet where I have no desire 
for sin; and, what is more, fear thatl never shall until 
I reach the next world. I tell you what, girls, I be- 
lieve more in the ‘ growth of grace.’ If we are con- 
tinually striving and praying, I think we are growing 
spiritually until we reach such a state that it almost 
amounts to sanctification. But as to having sanctifi- 
cation suddenly burst upon you while at prayer, as 
some profess, it has never been my experience. It 
may have been the experience of others. God knows, 
I do not.” 

“ Then you wouldn’t advise us to pray for it ? ” 

“Oh, yes, by all means ; but God will know best 
whether you ought to have it. He gives us such gifts 
as he thinks we have need of. You know an earthly 
parent does not always think it right to give all we 
ask for, neither does our Heavenly Father. He 
knows better what we have need of than we know 
ourselves. Even our Saviour was tempted and tried 
when upon earth, and I do not know how we can ex- 
pect to escape temptations. You know it is those 


NELL AND NAN. 


151 


who have gone through great tribulations, aud their 
sins have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, who 
are saved.” 

“ Then it would be rather selfish for us to want to 
have an easy time when our Saviour had such a sad 
time of it, wouldn’t it?” asked Nan. 

“ He has made it easy enough for us by dying for 
us and accepting all who call upon him ; but you must 
remember that there is a devil, too, going about like 
a roariug lion, seeking whom he may devour. You 
must not let him overcome you with his blandish- 
ments, but bid him get behind you.” 

“ That makes me think, Mr. Newton,” said Nan, 
“ there is a woman living in this town who professes 
to be good, aud says she loves Jesus dearly, and yet 
she don’t believe there is any devil or any hell.” 

“My dear child, have you been obliged to hear 
such stuff already?” And the preacher frowned. “ Of 
course, there is a devil, or there would have been no 
sin ; and Jesus would never have had to die for us. 
And if there is a devil there must be a special home 
for him. If there is a heaven for the blessed, there 
must be a hell for the damned. It cannot be other- 
wise. I hear that your Sunday-school teacher is 
going to leave the place.” 


152 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ Yes, sir ; she goes next week,” answered Nan. 

“And, Mr. Newton, we haven’t the least idea who 
will be our next teacher.” 

“ It is easy enough to get teachers, but not so 
easy to get good teachers. Mrs. Layton was a vfery 
good teacher.” 

“Yes, sir. We were talking with mamma about 
it, and she said she didn’t know any one in town 
so well versed in the Bible as Mrs. Laurel.” 

“ Mrs. Laurel — let me see, who is she ? ” 

“Oh, she never comes to church. Mamma says 
she got mad about something and has not come for 
years; but mamma says she remembers when she 
could not be beat.” 

“It is a pity — a pity that such things will 
occur in the church,” said Mr. Newton, rubbing 
his forehead. 

“And mamma says she believes that Mrs. Laurel 
is a good woman yet ; only she has an ugly dispo- 
sition to contend with.” 

“ Who offended her ? It is his or her place to 
go and acknowledge if they are true followers of 
Christ.” 

“Oh, mamma says the lady who put her so out 
has been dead long ago and Mrs. Laurel some wav 


NELL AND NAN. 


153 


or another cannot get in the way of* going to 
church or Sunday-school again, though mamma says 
she never saw any one like to teach so well as she 
used to ; and she said that, perhaps, if we would 
go and ask her to be our teacher, that perhaps she 
might take our class and be thus led back to the 
church.” 

“ Go and ask her by all means, my dear girls. 
‘ Blessed are the peacemakers/ you know.” 

“But suppose she refuses?” said Nell. 

“ You will have done your duty. We can only 
sow what seed we can for Jesus and let him give 
the increase. And now, my little ones, do not be 
discouraged if your Christian experience does not 
go on as you want it to. Nobody’s ever does. You 
cannot expect to ‘sail to the skies on flowery beds 
of ease/ you know. Good afternoon, and may God 
bless you.” 


/ 


CHAPTER XIX. 


MRS. LAUREL. 

M RS. LAUREL lived in quite a pretty little place, 
which was all her own, just at the edge of the 
town. The pretty cottage was surrounded with 
piazzas and bay windows, and stood away back in 
a delightful-looking grove. 

Nell and Nan felt rather timid as they wended 
their way up the broad graveled walk. 

“I am afraid she will think we are two bold, 
brazen girls, ” said Nell. 

“ Nonsense, : ” said Nan. “ Just as if we are not as 
good as she, if she does live in a finer place. I am 
not afraid of her, and can be just as much a lady as 
she is.” 

Nell looked admiringly upon her more independent 
sister, and knew that Nan, as young as she was, could 
act the role of a perfect lady if she chose ; and not a 
few times had Nell envied her sister’s ease and self- 
possession. 

“You do most of the talking, won’t you?” she 


NELL AND NAN. 


155 


whispered, as they rang the door-bell and stood wait- 
ing for admission. 

Nan nodded her head just as a servant made her 
appearance and ushered them into the parlor. 

“ What names shall I say?” asked the girl. 

“ Nell and Nan Clark,” replied Nan. 

u Nell and Nan Clark,” they heard a lady repeat 
somewhere in the distance. “ Why, they must be the 
daughters of Captain Clark. Tell them I will be 
down presently, Maggie.” 

When she came she had on a handsome black silk 
djess, and carried a gold watch. 

Nell felt much awed, but not so with Nan. “ Par- 
don our intrusion,” said she, rising gracefully. 

“ Intrusion,” repeated the lady. “I am sure it is 
a pleasure to meet young people. Be seated.” 

“ Oh, thank you, dear Mrs. Laurel,” continued 
Nan, “ for we have come to ask of you a great favor.” 

“ Ah ! you are going to have a festival or fair, or 
something of the kind, I suppose, and want my aid,” 
smiled the lady. 

“ You are not good at guessing at all,” said Nan, 
turning her head coquettishly. “ Our Sunday-school 
teacher is going away for good next week, and we 
want you to fill her place.” 


156 KELL AND NAN. 

Tears sprang to the lady’s eyes, and she answered : 
“ Mv dear girls, you know not what you ask. I am 
not fit for a Sunday-school teacher.” 

“Not fit,” said Nan, in surprise; “why mamma 
says there is not another such Bible scholar in all the 
neighborhood, and that she don’t believe even Mr. 
Newton can make things plainer.” 

“ Did your mamma say that? I am sure that it is 
very kind in her. But I did not mean that. I meant 
that my heart is not fit.” And the lady looked so sad 
that Nell forgot her fear and hastened to comfort her 
by saying : 

“Dear Mrs. Laurel, you know where to go to get 
fit.” 

“ I have been out of the way so long,” said the 
lady, “that it will be hard getting back in the old 
ruts.” 

“ Not if Jesus is there to light the way,” said Nell, 
eagerly. 

“ My dear child,” said the lady, “ I remember 
when I was just as full of earnestness and zeal as you 
are, but one walked beside me who was a traitor, and 
I could not go the same road with her any longer.” 

“Not if that road led to Jesus ?” asked Nell. 

“How could it?” asked the lady. 


NELL AND NAN. 


157 


“Why, God wants us to goto heaven sometimes 
with sorrows and troubles and trials right beside us. 
Mr. Newton was saying that only the other day.” 

“ Why did not I ever think of that before ? I was 
mad at the woman, and mad with the church because 
they did not turn her out. If they had expelled her, 
I should have been a church member until this day.” 

“ Perhaps the church thought they had not proof 
enough against her,” suggested Nan. 

“ No ; that was just it. But they had proof enough 
on her dying bed. She confessed the wrong she had 
done me, and begged to see me.” 

“ Oh, Mrs. Laurel, did you go ? ” asked Nell, with 
tears in her eyes. 

“ How could I, when she was a hundred miles from 
here ? However, if she was sorry, I am sure I for- 
give her. But I could not get in the way of going to 
church again. You don’t know what a terrible thing 
habit is. But just stay away from the house of God 
a few Sundays, and you will find that it requires much 
effort to get started again. Just try it and see.” 

“Oh, Mrs. Laurel, not for anything,” said Nell, 
with tears of disappointment in her eyes. For she 
felt that their errand was going to be for naught. 

“ The Lord will reward you if you don’t. But 


158 


NELL AND NAN. 


don’t cry, my child. I did not want to say anything 
to discourage you.” 

“ Nell is disappointed in not getting you for a 
teacher,” said Nan, dolefully. 

“How do you know but that you may get me?” 

“ Oh, Mrs. Laurel, will you ? ” asked Nan. 

“ I shall have to feel differently from what I do 
to-day, if I do,” was the reply. 

“ Oh, Mrs. Laurel, won’t you pray over it?” pleaded 
Nell, earnestly, “ and Nan and I will pray, too.” 

“ Are both of you Christians ? ” asked the lady. 

“ We are trying to be,” said Nan. “ We are going 
to be baptized in a few Sundays.” 

“ Dear girls, I am so glad to hear it; and do not let 
anything ever win you away from your place in God’s 
house. I have been so unhappy all these long years, 
and longed to return ; but had not the courage.” 

“ Then you cannot give us a positive answer yet, in 
reference to taking our class.” 

“ No, I cannot. I shall have to think and pray 
over it. If the Lord bids me go, you will see me 
there next Sunday week. If not, I shall remain at 
home. I am afraid you will be disappointed ; for it 
will take a great deal of strength to enable me to go 
after so long a time of absence. But you must not 


NELL AND NAN. 


159 


go yet, my dears. Wait until I ring for refresh- 
ments. No — I will take no refusal.” And she touched 
a tiny silver bell on the marble-top table. 

“ Kate,” said she to the girl, “ bring in some cake, 
and fruit, and lemon-ice.” And while the girls were 
nibbling at their cake and sipping at their ice, the 
lady became quite gay, entirely changing the channel 
of their thoughts for the time being. 

“ She will not come,” said Nan, “ and we have had 
all our work for nothing.” 

“I don’t know. If she goes to Jesus aright, I 
think she will,” said Nell. 

“ We will wait and see. But isn’t she gay?” 

“ It seemed to me that she was putting all that 
gayety on to hide a dissatisfied heart,” said Nell. 

“ Maybe so, like when I hurt my back on the ice 
last winter and pretended to mother it didn’t hurt a 
bit, because she looked so frightened.” 

The next Sunday week, the girls took their books 
and walked slowly to Sunday-school, each expecting 
to be disappointed, and yet almost daring to hope. 

As they drew near the church Nell offered up a 
silent prayer for the lady, and a moment later the 
girls saw her coming from an opposite direction. 

“Oh, Nan!” exclaimed Nell, “here she comes. 


160 


NELL AND NAN. 


Praise the Lord ; for he has heard our prayers. Oh, 
I must cry. I can’t help it.” 

“ Don’t be a baby, don’t,” pleaded Nan. u Let us 
wait for her here, and then we can go in with her and 
introduce her to the rest of the class.” And going 
forward with outstretched hands, she gave the lady a 
smiling welcome with many hearty words, accom- 
panied with a kiss. 

As for Nell, her lips quivered, as she said : “ I am 
so glad,” and when Mrs. Laurel bent over to kiss her, 
she found her cheeks wet with tears. She understood 
it all, and paused a moment to throw one arm around 
her waist ; for, in her heart, she felt that this child’s 
prayers, more than her own, perhaps, had been 
answered; and from that hour Nell became very dear 
to the woman’s heart. 

The lady, however, was surprised to find such a 
warm reception, not only from Mr. Newton, but from 
superintendent and teachers alike. Truly, it was good 
to be back in God’s house ; and a deep peace, such 
as she had not felt for years, fell upon her. Truly it 
is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, 
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 


CHAPTER XX. 


WONDERFUL KEYS. 

I T was a beautiful Sunday in mid -autumn when Nell 
and Nan were baptized, together with six others. 
All the candidates were dressed in white, with the ex- 
ception of two men, one of them being Mr. Harmer. 

Mrs. Harmer was down there beside the waters too, 
and so was Miss Tullins and Mrs. Laurel; for though 
they were not to be baptized, because they had been 
years before, yet they were restored, and were to be 
welcomed anew in the church that day. Their hearts 
were so re-warmed, that they wanted to be near those 
who were walking in the footsteps of their Redeemer. 

Nell and Nan were led down in the water together, 
and were first baptized, because they had seemed to 
be the first to lead the revival. Nan was laid back in 
the clear waters first, and as she came up, Nell was 
standing with both hands clasped, her lips moving in 
prayer, while those on the shore sang : 

“Blessed Saviour, thee I love 
All ray other joys above ; 

All ray hopes in thee abide, 

Thou ray hope, and naught beside.” 

L 


161 


162 


NELL AND NAN. 


But at the end of the fourth line a rapt expression 
flitted over the face of the waiting child, and she sang 
the last two lines with more spirit than any one 
present : 

“ Ever let my glory be 
Only, only, only thee.” 

Then Nell went down into the waters, and came up 
singing : 

“ Once again, beside the cross, 

All my gain I count but loss ; 

Earthly pleasures fade away, 

Clouds they are that hide my day. 

Hence, vain shadows ! let me see 
Jesus crucified for me.” 

She had now reached the edge of the water, and 
Mrs. Laurel stretched out her arms for her, and, 
drawing her closely to herself, wrapped a shawl about 
her shoulders. 

Nan stood beside her mother, a smile of happiness 
on her face, as she watched one after another of the 
others go down into the liquid depths, and sang quite 
as earnestly as her sister the last verse : 

“Blessed Saviour, thine. am I, 

Thine to live, and thine to die ; 

Height or depth, or earthly power, 

Ne’er shall hide my Saviour more. 

Ever shall my glory be, 

Only, only, only thee.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


163 


A sob was heard in the distance, and a strong man 
was convicted of sin. 

Nell and Nan turned quickly, for suppose it was 
their father unexpectedly returned ? But no ; it was 
an aged and eminent lawyer, whom they all knew. 

“ Oh, if 1 could but make that verse the language 
of my heart, ” he groaned. “ But I am such a sinner 
God will never accept me.” 

“ ‘ For God so loved the world that he gave his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ 
So you see there is hope for you, my brother.” 

“ Pray for me,” groaned the man. “ I must have 
this Jesus, if he was crucified for me.” 

“ For the whole world, my brother. Don’t you see 
you cannot be left out, if yoa belong to the world ? ” 
said Mr. Newton. 

The man nodded his head, with a look of joyful 
surprise, and was very quiet until the last one was 
baptized. Then, hurrying forward, he said to the 
pastor : 

“ I think I understand. But I will not detain 
you here. I will be at church.” And he was there; 
and, in fact, almost everybody seemed to be there, for 
the church was packed, and that day was but the first 


164 


NELL AND NAN. 


Sabbath of a glorious revival that swept over the 
country for miles around. 

Clover ville seemed almost like another place after 
such a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 

People went about with smiling faces, and the hotel 
had actually closed its doors for want of patronage. 
There was no one in trouble, no one burdened, but 
what some of the brothers or sisters of Mr. Newton’s 
church were ready to help; and that good man was 
always ready to head every good enterprise. 

One beautiful day in Indian summer, Nell and 
Nan were sitting down in the arbor. The leaves 
above them were sere and brown, but the grass 
beneath their feet was still green, and a few little 
dandelions lifted up their golden faces in a cheery 
sort of a way. 

“ Ho put up that book, Nan, and let us talk,” said 
Nell. 

“ What shall we talk about ? ” 

“ Why, we shall not have many more such days 
as this, and we ought to make the best of this one.” 

“Well, are we not? I am sure it is delightful to 
read out here in the open air.” 

“But I was thinking about papa, Nan. Ho you 
suppose he will notice a change when he comes home?” 



Nell and Nan. 


Page 164 


— Hii'iwii ii— awa^an— nair 













NELL AND NAN. 


165 


“ He will think queer to see the tavern closed, I 
know.” 

“ I did not mean that, but in us. Oh, Nan, I do 
want to so let my light shine that everybody may 
know I am walking with God. If he doesn’t see any 
change in us, I shall be afraid I am not truly con- 
verted.” 

“ Now, Nell, don’t get into Doubting Castle with 
poor Pilgrim. If you do, here is the key of promise 
to let you out.” 

“ Where ? ” 

4 “ Why, here in this book. It is full of little keys 
and big ones, to unlock the most dungeon-like doors 
the giant Despair can turn on you.” 

“ Is that the Bible you have ? ” 

“To be sure; and it is so full of precious promises 
that no one need despair, if they will but keep hold 
of them.” 

“You are right, Nan; and I didn’t know it was 
the Bible you were reading, or I would not have 
asked you to put it up.” 

“ The Bible is a real study, Nell ; the more I read 
it the better I like it.” 

“ It is a precious book, if it did nothing else than 
just tell about Jesus.” 


CHAPTER XXI. 
captain clark’s return. 

H ERE Nell paused ; for a quick step was heard on 
the walk, and the girls, looking up, beheld their 
father. 

With a glad cry they both sprang from the bench, 
and each strove to reach him first. 

With an arm around each he kissed them heartily. 

“ Weren’t expecting the old man, eh ? ” he asked, 
sitting down on the bench and taking one upon each 
knee. “ Let me see what I brought you. Ah ! here 
are some oranges. Did you ever see such big fellows ? 
Came clear from Florida. I picked them up under 
the tree myself. If you want anything else, you had 
better run in the house to your mother.” 

“ We would rather stay out here awhile with you, 
papa,” said Nell, clasping him tight around the neck 
and laying her head on his coat collar. 

“ The same affectionate, trusting little girl I left 
when I went away. But I don’t know about you, 
Nan. What a giant you are getting to be ! You are 
outstripping your sister.” 

166 


NELL AND NAN. 


167 


“ She not only outstrips me in weight, papa, but in 
everything else. She is in all my classes at school, and 
I have difficulty to keep up with her.” 

“ I always knew Nan would be a scholar,” said the 
father, gazing fondly on his younger daughter. 
“ Well, I am glad of it ; and I am just as glad that 
Nell is what she is — a sweet, modest little woman. I 
wouldn’t have either of you different if I could — but 
what is this I have heard about you to-day ? Old 
Colby, the blacksmith, stopped me on my way up the 
street and told me both my little girls had joined 
church and been baptized. Weren’t you good enough 
before without going to all that trouble ? ” 

“ Why, papa, you know we were real naughty, and 
that mamma has had lots of trouble with us. Two 
quarrelsome, self-willed girls, fond of our own ease, 
and sometimes even disrespectful to mamma, besides 
all the heart sins that were just waiting until we gave 
them permission to come forth,” said Nan. 

“And now I suppose you are little angels,” said the 
father, ironically. “ Well, for my part, I prefer little 
girls to angels in this world. They are more natural.” 

“I am thinking you will still find enough of the 
little girl about us to even suit you,” said Nan, copy- 
ing her father’s irony. 


168 


NELL AND NAN. 


“Dear papa, we are only trying to be good. We 
make mistakes sometimes,” said Nell, softly, as she 
kissed his shaggy cheek. 

“And you know if we are Christians, Jesus helps 
us,” said Nan. 

“You do not care, papa, because we have sought 
the Saviour?” asked Nell, timidly. 

“Care because my dear little girls are aiming for a 
better life ? No, I should think not. I only wish you 
had a better father.” And he took out a great red 
handkerchief and blew his nose, as if he would avert 
the course of tears, if they so much as dared to creep 
up to his eyelids. 

“ You are just the best papa in the world,” said 
Nan. 

“And now, papa, when you are away in all sorts 
of dangers, you have Nan and me to pray for you 
as well as mamma,” said Nell. “ You ought to 
feel real rich with so many pleading to God for 
you.” 

“I am sure I do. Rich in my household treasures. 
Let us go in now. Little Charlie was asleep when I 
came, and I want to see if he remembers me.” 

“ Oh yes, papa. I know he will, for we talk every 
day to him about you,” said Nan. 


NELL AND NAN. 


169 


“ How long are you going to stay home this time, 
papa?” asked Nell. 

“ Two weeks; then Fm off again, and you won't 
see me any more before spring.” 

“ Oh, papa, I wish you could stay home with us 
all the time.” 

“ Then who would make the bread and butter for 
my darlings, and all the other pretty things? I have 
brought you each a real handsome silk dress this time 
— mamma and all.” 

“Oh, papa!” shouted both girls as they raised his 
hands to their lips and kissed them over and over 
again. 

How quickly those days sped ! and with the walks 
and rides and excursions from one place to another, 
the girls wished they might always last. But Cap- 
tain Clark did not once go to church, not even to 
accompany his wife when she pleaded so hard. He 
only good-humoredly bade them all begone while he 
remained at home with little Charlie. So all his family 
could do was to pray for him. 

At the close of the two weeks he declared he had 
never spent such a happy time at home. He would 
try to arrange it so that he could spend a longer time 
with them when next he came. 


170 


NELL AND NAN. 


“Oh, papa, how can I let you go?” cried Nell, 
clinging to him after all the rest had said their good- 
byes. 

“ Don’t, my little girl, or you will make a baby of 
papa,” said he, putting her away from him gently. 

“ Oh, papa, it wouldn’t be half so hard if you were 
only a Christian. Then I could leave you better with 
Jesus, and know he would take care of you.” 

Captain Clark turned quickly on his heel, and 
walked away so abruptly, that Nell cried out in 
anguish after him : “ Oh, papa, tell me I have not 
made you angry.” 

He wheeled around and kissed both hands to her, 
and was gone. And Nell crept into the house and, 
throwing herself on the lounge, wept as if her heart 
would break. 

“ Nell Clark, I don’t know what you want to be 
such a baby for,” said Nan. “The rest of us feel just 
as badly as you do; but we are strong for his sake. 
Think how poor papa must feel to have one of us 
crying after him so.” At these words Nell cried worse 
than before, and Nan went out and left her alone with 
her grief. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

OLD MARTIN’S DEATH. 


6 6 "VTELL,” said her mamma, “ they say that poor 
-hi old Martin is much worse. I want you to 
go over there and take him the toast and jelly I have 
just prepared.” 

“ Oh, mamma, I feel so bad. Can’t Nan go ? ” 
“No, I prefer that you should go. When one is 
in trouble, the very best thing is for them to get their 
mind away from that trouble to something else. I 
think it will do you good to go.” 

So Nell went with a tiny basket on her arm ; and 
bv the time she reached Martin’s she found her mind 
wandering away from her father, and wondering why 
so many stood beside Martin’s bed. 

But as she drew nearer she soon saw that the man 
was dying. Mr. and Mrs. Newton were both there, 
as well as two or three others. 

“ Poor, poor, Martin !” said Nell, drawing near to 
the bed. “ Mamma has sent you some toast and 
jelly. Can you eat them ? ” 

He smiled, and with uplifted finger said : “ When 

171 


172 


NELL AND NAN. 


next I eat it will be with my Father in heaven ; but 
tell your mother I thank her all the same. You have 
been good friends to me, all of you ; and may the good 
Lord bless you.” 

Nell turned away and wept. Mrs. Newton came 
over to her side. 

“ He wants you. He has something to give you,” 
said she. 

“ Oh, Mrs. Newton, I never saw anybody die in 
my life. I can’t bear to see him go,” said Nell, 
shrinking back. 

“ Jesus can make a dying bed feel soft as downy 
pillows are,” he repeated, as he stretched out his arms. 

“ There are two things I want you girls to have to 
remember me by after I am gone. One, is a real 
china pitcher, the last piece left of my mother’s china 
set, and the other, a mahogany work-box, with silver 
thimble and all the equipments — the last present I 
ever made my mother. Get them out from the little 
cupboard, Mrs. Newton, please. It will do me good 
to see the girls get them. Give Nau the box, please; 
for she has been a faithful attendant on me for these 
many long weeks. And do not go and leave me until 
all is over. I want my friends to go with me just as 
near as ever they can to the pearly gates.” 


NELL AND NAN. 


173 


Nell sat down and gazed out of the window, though 
she was in a sort of nervous tremor. 

She caught a glimpse of Nan going past the house. 
She opened the door and beckoned her in ; for she 
knew her sister would be strong, and might she not 
draw some strength from her ? 

She began to feel more composed as soon as Nan 
stood beside her at the dying bed. 

“ Poor, dear Martin ! ” said Nan, taking one of his 
cold hands in hers, and stroking it gently. 

“Nay; but rich Martin/’ he smiled. “Soon 
heaven will be mv home.” 

“Oh, Martin, I would not be afraid to die if I 
could look on death as you do,” said Nan. 

“ God will give you grace, dear, when your turn 
comes. He will whisper to you of the joys and plea- 
sures beyond, and you will be glad to leave a suffering 
body behind, to soar away to endless days of delight.” 

“ But Christians are afraid to die, sometimes,” said 
Nan, “ and they die crying mightily unto God for 
help. Mamma and I were with a lady once who died 
in just that way.” 

“ I think it is because they have not prepared their 
minds beforehand as they should, and such a sense of 
their unworthiness rushes over them, that they are 


174 


NELL AND NAN. 


amazed and feel lost. But no such soul is ever lost. 
God hears their cry for help, and soon all is calm, 
though it may not be until the river is almost crossed.” 

“How beautifully you talk !” said Nell, softly. 

“ Sing,” said Martin, turning to Mr. Newton. 

“ And let this feeble body fail, 

And let it faint and die ; 

My soul shall quit this mournful vale, 

And soar to worlds on high. 

“ Shall join the disembodied saints, 

And find its long-sought rest — 

That only bliss for which it pants — 

In the Redeemer’s breast. 

“Oh, what are all my sufferings here, 

If, Lord, thou count me meet 
With that enraptured host to appear, 

And worship at thy feet ? ” 

“ Please every one in the room sing.” 

After the hymn was sung, old Martin stretched out 
his hand, already cold, and bade each one “good-bye.” 
“ Now turn me over,” he implored, “ and let me go to 
sleep.” 

One of the men present complied with his request. 
He was turned over on his side, and he closed his 
eyes ; but it was for the last time. Dear old Martin 
was dead. 


NELL AND NAN. 


175 


Nell and Nan went sadly out into the street, and 
walked home with their arms about each other’s 
waists. 

“ Oh, Nell, if I could only die that way,” said Nan. 

“ Perhaps it is not right to crave such a happy 
release,” said Nell. 

“ Why?” 

“ Oh, I don’t know; but sometimes it seems almost 
heartless to me to hear Christians wanting to die 
glorious deaths. It seems to me they forget all 
about how Jesus died crying out : ‘ My God, why 
hast thou forsaken me ? , Are we better than Christ, 
that we should long to have it all bright when we 
go?” 

“ I never thought of that.” 

“If Jesus died in darkness, I think I can die in 
darkness too ; for I know Jesus will save me even 
then. But let us leave it all to him, Nan, how we 
shall die. If we are only careful about our living, 
and trust all to Jesus, it will be all right anyway.” 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


ILL TIDLNGS, 


“ H, mamma ! I had such a dreadful dream about 



V/ papa last night,” said Nan, one morning, at 
the breakfast table. “ I thought I saw him down in 
deep waters, and he was struggling with the waves. 
The second time I saw him go down out of sight ; and 
then I cried aloud, and it awoke me.” 

“As soon as she screamed, I woke her up,” said 
Nell. “ I thought she was sick.” 

“Take dreams by the contrary,” smiled their 
mother. “ I dare say your father was never in better 
health in his life.” 

“ But, mamma, there have been such dreadful 
squalls this winter, and we have not heard from papa 
for so long, that it sometimes worries me,” said Nell. 

“ Well, dear, it isn't right to borrow trouble.” 

“ I will try not to do so, mamma. But here comes 

Mr. Newton. What a long face he wears ! I wonder 

if anything is wrong.” 

* 

Mrs. Clark hastened to meet her early visitor, and 
brought him right out in the dining-room, where 
there was a glowing fire. 


176 


NELL AND NAN. 


177 


Mr. Newton took a paper from his pocket, and 
seemed agitated. 

Nell sprang up from the table, and rushing to him, 
gasped out : “ Mr. Newton, you have news about 
papa. Oh, tell us.” 

“ You poor child,” said the pastor, pitifully. “ But 
bear up. Remember that Jesus has promised to 
never leave or forsake you.” 

“ Mr. Newton, what do you mean ? Is my hus- 
band dead ? ” asked Mrs. Clark. 

“My dear sister, I am afraid so. At any rate, his 
boat is lost. Pieces of the wreck have been found.” 

“ Oh, but Mr. Newton, I don’t believe papa is 
dead,” said Nell. “ He couldn’t be, when Nan and I 
have prayed the Lord so earnestly to keep and con- 
vert him. Oh, sir, mamma don’t know; but one 
night when the wind blew a hurricane almost, Nan 
and I sat up in our room until nearly morning pray- 
ing for papa. Oh, I know the Lord wouldn’t call 
him away unprepared after the way we prayed.” 

“ There is a possibility that he has been picked up 
by some outward-bound vessel, and that you will yet 
hear from him.” 

“ God grant it,” said Mrs. Clark, as she clasped 
her white hands together, her face like stone. 

M 


178 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ I felt that it was all right when Nan and I 
ceased praying and we got in bed. I know the Lord 
would not deceive me.” 

“His ways are always right,” said her pastor, 
gently. “ You will have plenty to live on, Mrs. 
Clark ; that is one comfort. I understand that your 
husband owned this home, and that he has his life 
insured for ten thousand dollars.” 

“Oh, I cannot think of that now,” groaned Mrs. 
Clark. “ It is no comfort to me. I would rather 
have my husband than a million dollars.” 

“Of course, my dear sister; but the Lord will sus- 
tain you. Look to him.” 

Mrs. Clark thanked the bearer of ill tidings, and 
as he arose, she showed him to the door, and then 
went up-stairs. 

“ She has gone to pray,” said Nan. 

“'Don’t let us give up that he is lost yet, our dear, 
good papa,” said Nell, her eyes shining like two well- 
springs of hope, as she began to clear off the break- 
fast things. But even Nell’s faith was tried at last, 
when days and weeks passed, and there came no 
tidings of her father. 

“ Nan,” said she, one morning, as they were dress- 
ing, “ I am— afraid— it is all up— with papa.” And 


NELL AND NAN. 


179 


sinking down beside her bed, her frame shook with 
sobs. 

“ Don’t, Nell — don’t cry like that,” said Nan, cry- 
ing softly herself. “ It will make you sick.” 

“ But “think, we will never have the pleasure of 
welcoming him home again. Oh, the world will be 
so dark without papa.” 

“ Don’t, Nell, don’t ” 

“And my faith is all shaken to pieces in prayer. 
We did pray so hard, Nan, that I thought sure our 
prayers would be answered.” 

“ We must leave papa with God, Nell.” 

“ Oh, if I only could. But you know papa was 
unconverted, Nan. How can we leave him with 
God in such a case?” 

“ Oh, I don’t know ; but you grieve me worse. 
Sha’n’t we pray again, Nell ? Perhaps God will hear 
us yet.” 

“ How can he, after papa is dead ? ” 

“ Then let us pray that he will comfort us, and 
teach us how to bear our affliction.” 

The girls both knelt, and Nan prayed ; but Nell 
was sobbing, so she could not say a word, only: 

“ Oh, dear Lord Jesus ! Oh, dear Lord Jesus ! ” 

Nan arose, but Nell still remained on her knees. 


180 


KELL AND NAN. 


“ Tell mamma I don’t want any breakfast this 
morning. I will stay here.” 

“But you may take cold.” 

“No; if I feel chilly, I will creep back in bed.” 

Nan left the room reluctantly ; but her place was 
soon taken by Mrs. Clark. 

“ Nell,” said her mother, “ it is real wicked to take 
on so. Finish dressing, and come down-stairs ; that 
is a good girl.” 

“Oh, mamma, I can’t. I have been so sure our 
prayers were heard that fearful night, that you know 
I was strong, while you and Nan were weak. Every 
spark of life is now gone. Papa must be dead ; and 
oh, mamma, he wasn’t a Christian.” 

“How do you know that? He may have had 
ample time to have made his peace with God before 
the ship went down. You have no right to doubt 
God so, my child. The dressmaker will be here this 
afternoon, to help me prepare suitable mourning 
dresses for all.” 

“Then, mamma, you have given up all hopes?” 

“Yes, dear, long ago; and we must say, ‘Thy will, 
O Lord, and not ours, be done.’ ” 

“I don’t want to wear any old, hateful black 
things. They’d make me feel as if I was going to a 


NELL AND NAN. 


181 


funeral all the time. The garnet silk papa brought 
me the last time he came home is all the dress I shall 
ever like again. I kiss it every night when I go to 
bed, and before I go down-stairs in the morning.” 

“ I think that is silly.” 

“ Ever since papa was lost, I mean. It was his 
last present to me, and I like to think of it.” 

“ Breakfast is waiting.” 

“ I cannot eat a mouthful.” 

“ Then come down, and sit with the rest of us. I 
cannot permit you to remain here alone! You will 
work yourself up into a fever. Little Charlie has 
been calling for * Sister Nell.’ You know your papa 
would not want you to neglect your little brother.” 

“ I will come, mamma; but I didn’t sleep hardly a 
wink all night, and my head aches fearfully.” 

“ My poor child, then you shall lie on the lounge, 
and I will be your doctor. Don’t forget, my dear, 
that this is very hard on your mamma too.” 

“ Oh, forgive me, mamma, for thinking of nobody 
but myself.” And throwing her arms around her 
mother’s neck, she kissed her. 

“ You girls can be such a comfort to me, if you 
only will,” said Mrs. Clark, with quivering lips. 

“ I will try, dear mamma.” 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


THE WELCOME LETTER. 

N ELL had been asleep on the lounge. When she 
awoke her mamma was sitting near her, engaged 
with some sewing. 

“ Mamma, isn’t it time for the mail?” 

“ I think it is.” 

“ Where is Nan ? ” 

“ In the nursery with Charlie. I was afraid his 
noise would disturb you.” 

“ I believe I will get up, and go to the post-office.” 
“ Hadn't you better let Xan go ? I am afraid you 
are not strong enough.” 

“ I suspect they are tired of seeing me there every 
day. Sometimes I go before the mail is in, and have 
to wait ever so long. But I think it is later to-day.” 
“ I thought you had given your papa entirely up.” 
“ I thought I would go just once more.” 

“ Xan shall go with you, then. Charlie shall stay 
with me.” 

“There is no use,” said Xan. " I have thought so 
for a long time, and I think it annoys the postmaster 
182 


NELL AND NAN. 


183 


to see Nell’s pale face every day, rain or blow or what 
not, thrust into his office window so eagerly.” 

“ I shall not be eager to-day. I think I want to 
go more from habit than anything else.” 

When the girls reached the post-office, Nell led the 
way mechanically up to the little slide. 

“ Mr. Norton,” said she, in a doleful little voice, 
“ is there anything here for us?” 

“ Yes, ma’am,” said the postmaster, with great 
alacrity. “ Here it is — Mrs. Sarah Clark.” 

Nell glanced at the address. She recognized the 
writing, and without a word fell fainting to the floor. 

“ That’s Captain Clark’s writing, or I am no judge,” 
said the postmaster. “ Knew it as soon as I saw it. 
The child has fainted from joy.” All this he said, as 
he raised her in his arms and applied restoratives. 

“ She had no business to come, anyhow,” said Nan. 
“ She was sick.” 

“Does she often faint?” 

“ I have seen her faint two or three times. Mamma 
says she is so sensitively organized that she cannot 
bear as much as some folks.” 

“Ah ! she is coming to,” said the postmaster, with 
satisfaction. 

“ Wliere is the letter?” Nell asked. 


184 


NELL AND NAN. 


“Here,” said Nan. “You needn’t think I was 
going to lose this if you did faint. But how you did 
scare me, Nell ! I am all shaky yet.” 

“ Let us go home.” 

Nan took her sister’s arm, and they left the store. 

“ Let me have the letter, Nan, please.” 

Nan passed it over without a word. 

As soon as they reached the house, Nell was again 
in great excitement, and bursting into the room, ex- 
claimed : “ Oh, mamma, here is a letter from papa.” 
And with a gasp she sank down on the lounge, and 
buried her face in the pillows. 

Mrs. Clark was almost as much excited as the girls 
were, as she tore open the letter with trembling 
fingers. 

“ It has a foreign postage stamp on it,” said Nan. 

“ Yes, your father must be in Australia. But let 
me read.” 

Everything was painfully silent. Even Charlie the 
baby seemed to realize the situation, and sat in his 
little chair, staring first at one and then at the other 
with wondering eyes. 

“ Girls, your father is alive, but has been very 
sick,” were the first words that Mrs. Clark said. 

“ Oh, mamma, tell us all about it,” said Nan. 







Nell and Nan. 


Page 185 




NELL AND NAN. 


185 


“ Wait until I read more. He says his sickness 
came from the terrible exposure he had on the night 
his ship was wrecked. All night long he lived, he 
says, holding on to a broken spar of the ship. Lived 
hours after all the others had perished.” 

“ Oh, mamma, how wonderful ! ” exclaimed Nan. 

“ Tell the girls,” he says, “that I should have 
given up more than once but for the thought of them 
at home praying for me. It seemed to me that I was 
impelled by some unseen Power to not give up my 
hold on the broken spar; and tell the girls that night 
there, tossed hither and thither on the hungry waves, 
I was converted to God.” Here Mrs. Clark broke 
down and sobbed aloud. 

“And to think I should have doubted God for one 
moment,” said Nell, as she lay with clasped hands. 

“ We don’t deserve to have papa saved,” said 
Nan. 

“Oh, but God is always better to us than we 
deserve,” said Nell, with glistening eyes. 

“ When will he be home ? ” asked Nan. 

Mrs. Clark again picked up the letter and read. 

“ He was picked up by an outward-bound vessel 
more dead than alive, and a terrible sickness followed, 
which lasted for weeks. He wrote to us as soon as he 


3 86 


NELL AND NAN. 


could, and says, God willing, he will be home with us 
in a few weeks. God be praised ! ” 

“ Mamma, let us thank God right here,” said Nell, 
as she slipped from the lounge on to her knees. 

Mrs. Clark wept, and they all prayed and thanked 
God together, until a calm crept into their hearts, and 
they arose to go about their daily occupations with 
light hearts. 

“ Mamma, I wonder if it wasn’t the very night we 
were praying for papa so that he was converted ? ” 
asked Nell. 

“ I don’t know, my dear. He mentions no dates.” 

“It doesn’t make any difference what night it was, 
so that he was converted,” said Nan. “ Mamma, do 
you suppose he will go to church with us now?” 

“ Certainly, my love.” 

“ Oh, the Lord is too good, too good ! ” murmured 
Nell. “ I hardly know whether to laugh or to cry, I 
am so happy.” 

“ I am sure I do both,” said Nan, smiling, while 
there were tears in her eyes. 

“ I am so glad we didn’t get on those ugly black 
things,” said Nell. “Aren’t you?” 

“ To be sure I am. Mamma, what can we select 
for papa, as a present, before he comes home ? ” 


NELL AND NAN. 


187 


“ He is needing new dressing-gown and slippers.” 

“I will make the gown if you will do the slip- 
pers,” said Nell. 

Let us both work on the wrapper and both on 
the slippers,” suggested Nan. 

“Anyhow,” said Nell. “Now the first thing we 
had better do is to count over our money. I have 
three dollars.” 

“And I have two and a half,” said Nan. 

“Do you think that will be enough, mamma ?” 
asked Nell. 

“ What kind do you want ? ” 

“I should like the wrapper made out of gray cash- 
mere, with blue flowers, and lined or faced with scar- 
let satin — wouldn’t you, Nan ? ” 

“I think that would be very pretty; and the slip- 
pers, Nell, ought to be water lilies worked on a gray 
ground.” 

“ That will do. I was thinking of a bunch of vio- 
lets on a gray ground; but the water lilies will be 
prettier. We haven’t enough money, have we, mam- 
ma ? ” 

“ I will make up the deficiency,” said Mrs. Clark. 

The girls then kissed their mother and went out 
risdit awav after the materials. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


THE LORD’S GOODNESS. 

N ELL and Nan now counted the days and weeks 
until their father should come home. 

“ I never knew such long days before/’ said Nell. 
“ I hurry to bed to shorten the days, and then lie 
awake at night.” 

“And that makes the nights miserably long,” 
laughed Nan, “and I would rather have long days 
than nights.” 

“ So would I. I wonder how mamma keeps so 
patient ? ” 

“ By having so much to do that time has no time 
to drag on my hands,” said Mrs. Clark. 

“ It is too bad, mamma,” said Nan. “ Make Nell 
and me do more.” 

“Have you the wrapper and slippers done?” 
“Long ago,” replied Nan; “all but the slippers, 
and they are at the shoemaker’s, getting soled.” 

“ Well, girls, our spring house-cleaning must be 
done before your papa returns. You won’t have much 
time to count the days if you keep up with me.” 

188 






































































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SNYDER 


Nell and Nau 


Page 189. 



NELL AND NAN. 


189 


The girls took the hint, and after that there was no 
more counting the days, save at night, when the girls 
were disrobing for bed, one would say to the other 
sleepily : “ One day more gone.” 

The house was in perfect order two or three days 
before the expected return ; and the day before, mother 
and daughters were cooking all kinds of delicacies for 
the morrow. Mrs. Clark was just taking the last pie 
out of the oven, when the door opened and in walked 
Captain Clark. 

Mrs. Clark was so startled that she dropped her 
pie and it turned bottom up on the floor. As for 
Nell and Nan, with glad cries of joy, they sprang 
to their father’s arms and almost smothered him with 
kisses. 

“ What shall I do, mother ? ” he cried ; “ they won’t 
let you have your share ? Where is the boy ? ” 

“Asleep, as he ought to be, when we are so busy,” 
smiled Mrs. Clark; “but we weren’t looking for 
you until to-morrow.” 

“We reached port sooner than we expected, and I 
would not delay an hour in New York until I saw 
my treasures; and so you must not be disappointed 
when I tell you I haven’t brought you a present, 
except myself. ; ’ 


190 


NELL AND NAN. 


“ You are all the present we want,” said Nell ; 
“ now we are rich indeed.” 

“ It is our turn to make the presents now,” said 
Nan; “just come in the sitting-room and see.” 

“ I must see the boy first.” And Captain Clark went 
and stood beside the cradle of his baby. 

“ Dear little fellow,” he said. “ I little thought I 
should ever see you again on that terrible night. 
Sarah, don’t let us make a sailor of our boy.” 

“ Not if I can help it,” replied Mrs. Clark, with 
tears in her eyes; “it is hard enough to have you gone 
so much.” 

“ Here are the presents, papa,” said Nan. 

“ Yes, I see. What a kind wife and children I 
have ! The thought of them kept me frQm sinking 
that terrible night.” 

“ It was God, papa,” said Nell. 

“Yes, and God the most, of course,” said the 
captain. 

“ Is your loss heavy ? ” asked Mrs. Clark. 

“No, everything was insured but our clothing. The 
stockholders are already negotiating for a new ship, 
and I shall be ready to sail again in a month or two.” 

“ Oh, father, I was in hopes you would give up 
such a dangerous life after this,” said Mrs. Clark. 


NELL AND NAN. 


191 


“ I would not be satisfied at anything else ; besides, 
there are dangers everywhere. God can be with us 
anywhere.” 

“ Oh, papa, I am so glad you have learned it,” 
said Nell. 

“Yes, papa; you don’t know how Nell and I 
prayed for you while you were gone,” said Nan. 

“I think I felt it. Nell told me she Was going to 
pray for me before I left, you know. I never could 
forget it. I thought of it every day. I do not doubt 
but that it was your prayers that saved me.” 

“ And you will go to church with us Sunday, won’t 
you, papa?” asked Nell. 

“ To be sure I will. I am ready to go with you to 
every meeting that is going. God has been very good 
to me, and with his help I expect to lead a different 
life.” 

“ It is our turn to stay at home with Charlie next 
Sunday,” said Nan. 

“No, we will take him along, if mother is willing; 
he has grown to be such a big boy — ah ! you little 
rogue, you have opened your blue eyes at last, have 
you, to look upon your papa ; and now for a shoulder 
ride.” 

Charlie laughed and clapped his hands as he was 


192 


NELL AND NAN. 


mounted on a level with his papa’s head; and leaving 
them to their frolic, Mrs. Clark and her daughters 
slipped out into the kitchen to prepare dinner. 

“ ‘ The Lord is good to all : and liis tender mercies 
are over all his works. 

“ ‘ All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord ; and 
thy saints shall bless thee.’ 

“ ‘ The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon 
him, to all that call upon him in truth. 

“ ‘ He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : 
he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 

“ ‘ The Lord preserveth all them that love him: 
but all the wicked will he destroy. 

“ ‘ My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord : 
and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and 
ever.’ ” 

“ That was our Sunday-school lesson last Sunday, 
Nan, and if anybody ought to make those verses the 
language of the heart to-day, it ought to be we,” 
said Nell. 

“ I guess we all do,” said Mrs. Clark, as she wiped 
a tear from a sunny face. 


THE END. 






























































































































































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